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FrailtyNCT04481438

Effects of Acupunch Exercises on the Frail Older Adults in Long-Term Care Facilities

A study testing Acupunch Exercises in people with Frailty and Exercise, run by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at 10 sites in Taiwan.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Frailty is a complex elderly problem and a precursor of functional degradation in elder adults. The aim of this study will to test the effects of acupunch exercises on the frail older adults in long-term care facilities. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Frailty, Exercise
What is being tested?
Acupunch Exercises
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
81 participants
Where
10 sitesTaiwan
Study dates
24 Mar 2020to 24 Mar 2021
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Any age
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • frail older adults
  • aged 65 and above
  • had lived in the long-term care facilities more than 3 months

Who cannot join

  • dementia patient
  • psychiatric patient
  • spinal cord injury patient

Trial locations and contacts

10 sites in 1 country.

10 sites in 1 country

Taiwan10 sites
  • Nursing Home

    Chaozhou, Pingtung, 920

  • Conservation Center

    Daliao, Kaohsiung, 831

  • Elderly Care Center

    Fongshan District, Kaohsiung, 830

  • Nursing Home

    Gangshan, Kaohsiung, 820

  • Nursing Home

    Pingtung City, Pingtung City, 900

  • Nursing Home

    Pingtung City, 900

  • Senior Citizens' Home

    Pingtung City, 900

  • Elderly Care Center

    Renwu, Kaohsiung City, 833

  • Nursing Home

    Sanmin, Kaohsiung, 807

  • Citizens' Home

    Yanchao, Kaohsiung City, 824

Other trials in Taiwan

About this study

Frailty is a complex elderly problem and a precursor of functional degradation in elder adults. The aim of this study will to test the effects of acupunch exercises on the frail older adults in long-term care facilities.

Read the detailed description

Frailty is a complex elderly problem and a precursor of functional degradation in elder adults. The cause of frailty is multifactorial. Regular exercise intervension could improve frailty condition and general functional fitness. The acupunch exercise program was developed based on Jing-Luo theory of tranditional Chinese Medicine. The aim of this study will to test the effects of acupunch exercises on the frail older adults in long-term care facilities.

Conditions
Frailty, Exercise
Being tested
Acupunch Exercises
Keywords
Acupunch exercises, Frailty, long-term care facilities
Medical subject headings
Frailty, Motor Activity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Acupunch ExercisesOther

    The acupunch exercise program was developed based on Jing-Luo theory of tranditional Chinese Medicine. The experiment group will receive Acupunch exercise for 40 minute sessions, 3 times a week, for 24 weeks

Study groups in NCT04481438
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
exercise groupExperimentalexercise group will receive acupunch exercise
Receives: Other: Acupunch Exercises
control groupNo interventioncontrol group will maintain the regular activities of their original daily lives

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. handgrip strength

    handgrip strength measured by the Digital Handgrip Dynamometer (in kilograms)

    Measured: 24 weeks

  2. upper limb muscle endurance

    upper limb muscle endurance measured by the Arm Curl Test in times per 30 seconds

    Measured: 24 weeks

  3. lower limb muscle endurance

    lower limb muscle endurance measured by the Chair-to-Stand Test in times per 30 seconds

    Measured: 24 weeks

  4. lung function

    lung function measured by Peak Flow Meter (in liters)

    Measured: 24 weeks

  5. upper body flexibility

    upper body flexibility measured by the Back Scratch Test( in centimeters)

    Measured: 24 weeks

  6. forward flexion

    forward flexion measured by the Chair Sit-and-Reach Test( in centimeters)

    Measured: 24 weeks

  7. shoulder joint flexion

    shoulder joint flexion measured by protractor( in degree)

    Measured: 24 weeks

  8. shoulder joint abduction

    shoulder joint abduction measured by protractor( in degree)

    Measured: 24 weeks

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. frailty status

    evaluated based on the guidelines of the SOF Research Group

    Measured: 24 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted22 Jul 2020
  2. Study start24 Mar 2020
  3. Primary completion24 Mar 2021
  4. Study completion24 Mar 2021

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
81 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04481438
Sponsor's protocol ID
201900696B0
Status last verified
Sep 2021
First submitted
14 Jul 2020
Last updated
8 Oct 2021
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: for personal privacy reason

Publications

  • Hsiao CY, Chen KM, Tsai HY, Huang HT, Cheng YY, Tsai AY. Self-Perceived Health and Sleep Quality of Community Older Adults after Acupunch Exercises. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2018 May;26(5):511-520. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2018.01.199. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

    PubMed 29433845
  • Kojima G. Prevalence of Frailty in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2015 Nov 1;16(11):940-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2015.06.025. Epub 2015 Aug 6.

    PubMed 26255709
  • Chou CP, Chen KM, Tung HT, Belcastro F, Hsu HF. Physical fitness and frailty status of frail older adults in long-term care facilities after acupunch exercises: A cluster-randomized controlled trial. Exp Gerontol. 2022 Jun 15;163:111799. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2022.111799. Epub 2022 Apr 4.

    PubMed 35390490

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Acupunch Exercises in people with Frailty and Exercise, run by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at 10 sites in Taiwan.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Oct 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 10 sites in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

handgrip strength (time frame: 24 weeks). The study lists 8 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04481438, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Oct 2021.

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