Taekwondo-based Fall Prevention Exercise ConditionEarly Phase 1NCT07524361
Taekwondo Program for Preventing Falls in Older Adults
A Early Phase 1 study testing Fall prevention exercise using Taekwondo and Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention in people with Taekwondo-based Fall Prevention Exercise Condition and Fall Prevention Education Control Condition, run by University of South Carolina at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Falls in older adults are a public health crisis, as 30% of older adults fall each year, with a mortality rate of 78%.1 Fall-related healthcare costs are over 50 billion dollars.1 Therefore, preventing older adults from falling is important in both individual and public health aspects by increasing their quality of… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 55 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Taekwondo-based Fall Prevention Exercise Condition, Fall Prevention Education Control Condition
- What is being tested?
- Fall prevention exercise using Taekwondo and Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 13 Jan 2026to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 55 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Older adults ages 55 and above
- Adequate physical ability to perform walking independently
- Able to use a smartphone app without assistance
- Capable of providing informed consent
- Agree to be randomized to the group
Who cannot join
- Plan to have surgery or relocate outside the area within the next 3 months
- Currently participate in other studies involving physical activity or fall-prevention research studies
- Frail older adults screened by the FRAIL questionnaire
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina, 29201
About this study
Official title: Evaluating a Taekwondo-based Fall Prevention Exercise Program in Older Adults: a Feasibility Study
Falls in older adults are a public health crisis, as 30% of older adults fall each year, with a mortality rate of 78%.1 Fall-related healthcare costs are over 50 billion dollars.1 Therefore, preventing older adults from falling is important in both individual and public health aspects by increasing their quality of life and reducing healthcare costs. However, the current fall-prevention exercise programs have a limitation in maintaining exercise adherence behaviors or increasing physical activities once the intervention is completed.2 The theory-based exercise program shows a higher adherence and retention rate.3,4 Taekwondo (TKD), one type of martial arts, can be a potential channel to deliver a theory-based fall prevention exercise program. Therefore, this study aims to test the feasibility of the potential 12 Taekwondo-based fall prevention exercise program for older adults and its preliminary efficacy using a randomized controlled trial.
- Conditions
- Taekwondo-based Fall Prevention Exercise Condition, Fall Prevention Education Control Condition
- Being tested
- Fall prevention exercise using Taekwondo, Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention
- Keywords
- Fall prevention exercise, Older adults, Randomized controlled trial, Physical Activity, Feasibility
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Fall prevention exercise using TaekwondoBehavioural
Current fall-prevention exercise programs have a limitation in maintaining exercise adherence behaviors or increasing physical activities once the intervention is completed.2 The theory-based exercise program shows a higher adherence and retention rate.3,4 Taekwondo (TKD), one type of martial arts, can be a potential channel to deliver a theory-based fall prevention exercise program. Therefore, this study aims to test the feasibility of the potential 12 Taekwondo-based fall prevention exercise program for older adults and its preliminary efficacy using RCT.
Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall PreventionBehavioural
Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention online education includes three modules. Module1 has three sessions that provide overview of fall prevention such as fall statistics, and preventable risk factors. Module2 has eight sessions that provide tips to ensure the home safety for fall prevention. Module3 has 12 sessions that provide tips for personal safety from nutrition to mental health. Participants will complete this module at their own pace, and report their progress through email or text message each week.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Taekwondo exercise arm | Experimental | Participants will received 12 sessions of Taekwondo-based fall prevention exercises. The exercise will be delivered twice a week for 6-weeks at the local recreational center. Each sessions includes three components: static and dynamic stretching warm-up, basic Taekwondo movement exercises, and kicking exercises. Static and dynamic warm-up was developed based on the evidence-based fall prevention exercise, The Otago Exercise Program. The basic Taekwondo movement exercises include three basic stances (walking, front, and horse riding stances) , and hand movements (low, middle, and high block, and middle punch). Kicking exercise includes target kicking using front kicks. Receives: Behavioral: Fall prevention exercise using Taekwondo |
| Fall prevention education arm | Active comparator | Participants will received the Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention online education program. It includes three modules. Module1 has three sessions that providing overview of fall prevention such as fall statistics, and preventable risk factors. Module2 has eight sessions that provides tips to ensure home safety for fall prevention. Module3 has 12 sessions that provides tips for personal safety from nutrition to mental health. Participants will complete this module at their own pace, and report their progress through email or text message each week. Receives: Behavioral: Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Recruitment Feasibility
The number of participants enrolled in the study per month; The number of participants who provided consent over the eligible participants.
Measured: Post-intervention at week 7.
Intervention Satisfaction
8-item questionnaire with 7-point Likert (adapted from Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale). The response scale ranges from 1-7, spanning from the lowest degree (=1) to the highest degree (=7).
Measured: Post intervention at week 7
Perceived feasibility
Using 5 points Likert Scale, and the response scale is (1): Completely disagree; (3) Neither agree or disagree; to (5): Completely agree. These items ask about participants' perceived program acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility
Measured: Post intervention at week 7
Intervention fidelity
Fidelity checklist scored by the independent rater
Measured: Every exercise session
Adherence rate
Number of sessions each participant attended / total sessions provided (i.e., 12)
Measured: Post intervention (At Week 7)
Intention to reparticipate
Use 4-item questionnaire with 5-point Likert Scale. The response scale is (1): Strongly disagree; (3) Neither agree or disagree, to Maximum (5): Strongly agree
Measured: Post intervention (At Week 7)
Adverse event
The number of grade 1 adverse events occurred across all exercise sessions.
Measured: Anytime during the intervention period
Secondary outcomes (3)
Physical function
Static and dynamic balance: Balance Error Scoring System (Outcome unit: number of errors occurred) Functional Gait Assessment (Outcome unit: a score ranging from 0-30) Muscle strength: 30-second chair-stand tests (Outcome unit: number of successful trials) Gait speed: Timed-Up and Go (Outcome unit: total time (seconds) to complete the task)
Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 7)
Fear of falling
The Falls Efficacy Scale-International - 16 items with 4-point Likert Scale ranging from (1): Not at all concerned to (4): Very concerned.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 7)
Activity and Sedentary fragmentation
Activity fragmentation: Transition probability from activity behavior to sedentary behavior every minute. Sedentary fragmentation: Transition probability from sedentary behavior to activity behavior every minute.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 7)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Apr 2026
- Study start13 Jan 2026
- Primary completion30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Taekwondo-based Fall Prevention Exercise ConditionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- RCT
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of South Carolina
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Chih-Hsiang Yang, University of South Carolina
- Investigators
- Chih-Hsiang Yang, PhD, Study chair, 2. University of South Carolina
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07524361
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Pro00137158
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 23 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: The study will be conducted from a restricted area and the participants will be recruited from local senior centers, which has high risk of identifying the personal information of study participants.
Publications
Judy A. Stevens, Elizabeth R. Burns. A CDC Compendium of Effective Fall Interventions: What Works for Community-Dwelling Older Adults. 3rd Ed. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; 2015.
Webb TL, Joseph J, Yardley L, Michie S. Using the internet to promote health behavior change: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of theoretical basis, use of behavior change techniques, and mode of delivery on efficacy. J Med Internet Res. 2010 Feb 17;12(1):e4. doi: 10.2196/jmir.1376.
PubMed 20164043Prestwich A, Sniehotta FF, Whittington C, Dombrowski SU, Rogers L, Michie S. Does theory influence the effectiveness of health behavior interventions? Meta-analysis. Health Psychol. 2014 May;33(5):465-74. doi: 10.1037/a0032853. Epub 2013 Jun 3.
PubMed 23730717Florence CS, Bergen G, Atherly A, Burns E, Stevens J, Drake C. Medical Costs of Fatal and Nonfatal Falls in Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018 Apr;66(4):693-698. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15304. Epub 2018 Mar 7.
PubMed 29512120
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluating a Taekwondo-based Fall Prevention Exercise Program in Older Adults: a Feasibility Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07524361
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Pro00137158
- Conditions
- Taekwondo-based Fall Prevention Exercise Condition, Fall Prevention Education Control Condition
- Keywords
- Fall prevention exercise, Older adults, Randomized controlled trial, Physical Activity, Feasibility
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of South CarolinaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 13 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Falls in older adults are a public health crisis, as 30% of older adults fall each year, with a mortality rate of 78%.1 Fall-related healthcare costs are over 50 billion dollars.1 Therefore, preventing older adults from falling is important in both individual and public health aspects by increasing their quality of life and reducing healthcare costs. However, the current fall-prevention exercise programs have a limitation in maintaining exercise adherence behaviors or increasing physical activities once the intervention is completed.2 The theory-based exercise program shows a higher adherence and retention rate.3,4 Taekwondo (TKD), one type of martial arts, can be a potential channel to deliver a theory-based fall prevention exercise program. Therefore, this study aims to test the feasibility of the potential 12 Taekwondo-based fall prevention exercise program for older adults and its preliminary efficacy using a randomized controlled trial.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- RCT
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Taekwondo exercise arm | Experimental | Behavioral: Fall prevention exercise using TaekwondoParticipants will received 12 sessions of Taekwondo-based fall prevention exercises. The exercise will be delivered twice a week for 6-weeks at the local recreational center. Each sessions includes three components: static and dynamic stretching warm-up, basic Taekwondo movement exercises, and kicking exercises. Static and dynamic warm-up was developed based on the evidence-based fall prevention exercise, The Otago Exercise Program. The basic Taekwondo movement exercises include three basic stances (walking, front, and horse riding stances) , and hand movements (low, middle, and high block, and middle punch). Kicking exercise includes target kicking using front kicks. |
| Fall prevention education arm | Active comparator | Behavioral: Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall PreventionParticipants will received the Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention online education program. It includes three modules. Module1 has three sessions that providing overview of fall prevention such as fall statistics, and preventable risk factors. Module2 has eight sessions that provides tips to ensure home safety for fall prevention. Module3 has 12 sessions that provides tips for personal safety from nutrition to mental health. Participants will complete this module at their own pace, and report their progress through email or text message each week. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 55 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Older adults ages 55 and above
- Adequate physical ability to perform walking independently
- Able to use a smartphone app without assistance
- Capable of providing informed consent
- Agree to be randomized to the group
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Plan to have surgery or relocate outside the area within the next 3 months
- Currently participate in other studies involving physical activity or fall-prevention research studies
- Frail older adults screened by the FRAIL questionnaire
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Fall prevention exercise using TaekwondoCurrent fall-prevention exercise programs have a limitation in maintaining exercise adherence behaviors or increasing physical activities once the intervention is completed.2 The theory-based exercise program shows a higher adherence and retention rate.3,4 Taekwondo (TKD), one type of martial arts, can be a potential channel to deliver a theory-based fall prevention exercise program. Therefore, this study aims to test the feasibility of the potential 12 Taekwondo-based fall prevention exercise program for older adults and its preliminary efficacy using RCT. | Behavioural | Taekwondo exercise arm |
| Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall PreventionLive Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention online education includes three modules. Module1 has three sessions that provide overview of fall prevention such as fall statistics, and preventable risk factors. Module2 has eight sessions that provide tips to ensure the home safety for fall prevention. Module3 has 12 sessions that provide tips for personal safety from nutrition to mental health. Participants will complete this module at their own pace, and report their progress through email or text message each week. | Behavioural | Fall prevention education arm |
Primary outcome
Recruitment Feasibility
Time frame: Post-intervention at week 7.
The number of participants enrolled in the study per month; The number of participants who provided consent over the eligible participants.
Intervention Satisfaction
Time frame: Post intervention at week 7
8-item questionnaire with 7-point Likert (adapted from Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale). The response scale ranges from 1-7, spanning from the lowest degree (=1) to the highest degree (=7).
Perceived feasibility
Time frame: Post intervention at week 7
Using 5 points Likert Scale, and the response scale is (1): Completely disagree; (3) Neither agree or disagree; to (5): Completely agree. These items ask about participants' perceived program acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility
Intervention fidelity
Time frame: Every exercise session
Fidelity checklist scored by the independent rater
Adherence rate
Time frame: Post intervention (At Week 7)
Number of sessions each participant attended / total sessions provided (i.e., 12)
Intention to reparticipate
Time frame: Post intervention (At Week 7)
Use 4-item questionnaire with 5-point Likert Scale. The response scale is (1): Strongly disagree; (3) Neither agree or disagree, to Maximum (5): Strongly agree
Adverse event
Time frame: Anytime during the intervention period
The number of grade 1 adverse events occurred across all exercise sessions.
3 secondary outcomes
Physical function
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 7)
Fear of falling
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 7)
Activity and Sedentary fragmentation
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 7)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Apr 2026.
- BackgroundJudy A. Stevens, Elizabeth R. Burns. A CDC Compendium of Effective Fall Interventions: What Works for Community-Dwelling Older Adults. 3rd Ed. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; 2015.
- Background: PubMed 20164043Webb TL, Joseph J, Yardley L, Michie S. Using the internet to promote health behavior change: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of theoretical basis, use of behavior change techniques, and mode of delivery on efficacy. J Med Internet Res. 2010 Feb 17;12(1):e4. doi: 10.2196/jmir.1376.
- Background: PubMed 23730717Prestwich A, Sniehotta FF, Whittington C, Dombrowski SU, Rogers L, Michie S. Does theory influence the effectiveness of health behavior interventions? Meta-analysis. Health Psychol. 2014 May;33(5):465-74. doi: 10.1037/a0032853. Epub 2013 Jun 3.
- Background: PubMed 29512120Florence CS, Bergen G, Atherly A, Burns E, Stevens J, Drake C. Medical Costs of Fatal and Nonfatal Falls in Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018 Apr;66(4):693-698. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15304. Epub 2018 Mar 7.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. The study will be conducted from a restricted area and the participants will be recruited from local senior centers, which has high risk of identifying the personal information of study participants.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Chih-Hsiang Yang, PhD study chair
2. University of South Carolina
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Early Phase 1 study testing Fall prevention exercise using Taekwondo and Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention in people with Taekwondo-based Fall Prevention Exercise Condition and Fall Prevention Education Control Condition, run by University of South Carolina at 1 site in United States.
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 5 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. 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.
What does this phase mean?
Early Phase 1 (sometimes called Phase 0) studies give a very small amount of a treatment to a few people, mainly to see how the body handles it.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
Recruitment Feasibility (time frame: Post-intervention at week 7.). The study lists 7 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 NCT07524361, which also lists 4 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 13 Apr 2026.