Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Tai Chi Exercise to Improve Quality of Life and Depression in Elderly With Sarcopenia
Sponsor: Hasanuddin University
Summary
This study aims to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi exercise on quality of life and depressive symptoms in elderly with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is characterized by a progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength, which may contribute to impaired physical function, reduced quality of life, and an increased risk of adverse health outcomes among older adults. Specifically, this study investigates the effects of an eight-week Tai Chi exercise program on health-related quality of life, assessed using the Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire, and depressive symptoms, assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), in elderly individuals diagnosed with sarcopenia. The primary research question of this study is whether an eight-week Tai Chi exercise program can improve quality of life and reduce depressive symptoms in elderly individuals with sarcopenia. Furthermore, this study aims to determine whether Tai Chi exercise results in greater improvements in SarQoL scores and GDS-15 scores compared with a control group participating in standard elderly exercise.
Official title: The Effect of Tai Chi on Quality of Life and Depression in Elderly Patients With Sarcopenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
60 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
40
Start Date
2026-01-24
Completion Date
2026-04-18
Last Updated
2026-09-23
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Tai Chi Exercise
The intervention group served as the experimental arm and participated in a Tai Chi exercise program. Each of their exercise sessions was led by a Tai Chi instructor and lasted for approximately 60 minutes, which consisted of a 10-minute warm-up, 30 minutes of core exercises, and a 10-minute cool-down. The participants in this group completed these training sessions three times a week over an eight-week period. After completion of the eight-week intervention period, post-intervention assessments were conducted in both groups using the same outcome measures as at baseline. Changes in sarcopenia-related quality of life, assessed using the Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire, and depressive symptoms, assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), were evaluated and compared between the Tai Chi and elderly exercise groups.
Elderly exercise (senam lansia)
The control group was established to compare the effectiveness of Tai Chi against a more conventional physical activity. Participants in this group engaged in a standard elderly exercise program (senam lansia). Their sessions were also guided by an instructor but had a shorter duration, lasting for approximately 30 minutes per session. Just like the intervention group, they performed these exercises three times a week for a total of eight weeks. After completion of the eight-week intervention period, post-intervention assessments were conducted in both groups using the same outcome measures as at baseline. Changes in sarcopenia-related quality of life, assessed using the Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire, and depressive symptoms, assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), were evaluated and compared between the Tai Chi and elderly exercise groups.
Locations (1)
GPIB Mount of Olives (Bukit Zaitun Church) Makassar
Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia