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 Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
20
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 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.
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Recruitment Feasibility
The number of participants enrolled in the study per month; The number of participants who provided consent over the eligible participants.
Time frame: 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).
Time frame: 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
Time frame: Post intervention at week 7
Intervention fidelity
Fidelity checklist scored by the independent rater
Time frame: Every exercise session
Adherence rate
Number of sessions each participant attended / total sessions provided (i.e., 12)
Time frame: 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
Time frame: Post intervention (At Week 7)
Adverse event
The number of grade 1 adverse events occurred across all exercise sessions.
Time frame: Anytime during the intervention period
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)
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 7)
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