Sarcopenia in ElderlyNCT07831356
Tai Chi Exercise to Improve Quality of Life and Depression in Elderly With Sarcopenia
A study testing Tai Chi Exercise and Elderly exercise (senam lansia) in people with Sarcopenia in Elderly, run by Hasanuddin University at 1 site in Indonesia.
Trial 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… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 60 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Sarcopenia in Elderly
- What is being tested?
- Tai Chi Exercise and Elderly exercise (senam lansia)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteIndonesia
- Study dates
- 24 Jan 2026to 18 Apr 2026
- 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 60 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 60 years or older
- Meets the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS).
- Willing to participate in the study, capable of understanding the informed consent, and physically able to perform Tai Chi movements.
- Must be a resident of Makassar.
- Has either never participated in Tai Chi, or has previous experience with Tai Chi but stopped practicing for more than 4 weeks (ensuring they are not currently active practitioners).
Who cannot join
- Cognitive impairment, indicated by a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 23 or lower.
- Hearing and/or speech impairments that make communication difficult. Presence of severe chronic diseases, such as heart failure, end-stage chronic kidney disease, malignancy, or the use of a pacemaker.
- Presence of edema (fluid retention/swelling).
- Experiencing lower extremity (leg) pain with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score of 5 or greater.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Indonesia1 site
GPIB Mount of Olives (Bukit Zaitun Church) Makassar
Makassar, South Sulawesi, 90126
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Tai Chi on Quality of Life and Depression in Elderly Patients With Sarcopenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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.
- Conditions
- Sarcopenia in Elderly
- Being tested
- Tai Chi Exercise, Elderly exercise (senam lansia)
- Keywords
- Tai Chi, sarcopenia, quality of life, SarQol, depression, GDS -15
- Medical subject headings
- Sarcopenia, Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Tai Chi ExerciseBehavioural
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)Behavioural
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Tai Chi Exercise Group | Experimental | Elderly participants diagnosed with sarcopenia who are randomly assigned to participate in a supervised Tai Chi exercise program. Receives: Behavioral: Tai Chi Exercise |
| Elderly Exercise (Senam Lansia) Group | Active comparator | Elderly participants diagnosed with sarcopenia who are randomly assigned to participate in a standard elderly exercise program Receives: Behavioral: Elderly exercise (senam lansia) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire
This outcome measures health-related quality of life in older adults with sarcopenia using the Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire. The SarQoL questionnaire consists of 55 items covering seven domains: physical and mental health, locomotion, body composition, functionality, activities of daily living, leisure activities, and fears. The questionnaire generates a total SarQoL index score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better sarcopenia-related quality of life. The validated scoring algorithm is used to calculate the overall SarQoL index score.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 8)
Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15)
This outcome measures depressive symptoms in older adults using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Each item is answered with a yes/no response and scored according to the established scoring criteria, with a total score ranging from 0 to 15. Higher scores indicate a greater severity of depressive symptoms. The GDS-15 is used to assess changes in depressive symptoms following the eight-week intervention.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 8)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Sep 2026
- Study start24 Jan 2026
- Primary completion18 Apr 2026
- Study completion18 Apr 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Sarcopenia in ElderlyStudies 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
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- The intervention group served as the experimental arm and participated in a Tai Chi exercise program. Each exercise session was led by a Tai Chi instructor and lasted approximately 60 minutes, consisting of a 10-minute warm-up, 30 minutes of core exercises, and a 10-minute cool-down. Participants in this group completed the training sessions three times per week for eight weeks. The control group participated in a standard elderly exercise program (senam lansia) as a comparison group to the Tai Chi group. Each session was led by an instructor and lasted approximately 30 minutes. Participants in this group completed the exercise sessions three times per week for eight weeks.
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hasanuddin University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dea Mardia Rauf, Hasanuddin University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07831356
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UH25121121
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Tai Chi on Quality of Life and Depression in Elderly Patients With Sarcopenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07831356
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UH25121121
- Conditions
- Sarcopenia in Elderly
- Keywords
- Tai Chi, sarcopenia, quality of life, SarQol, depression, GDS -15
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Hasanuddin UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 24 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 18 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 18 Apr 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Sep 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.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- The intervention group served as the experimental arm and participated in a Tai Chi exercise program. Each exercise session was led by a Tai Chi instructor and lasted approximately 60 minutes, consisting of a 10-minute warm-up, 30 minutes of core exercises, and a 10-minute cool-down. Participants in this group completed the training sessions three times per week for eight weeks. The control group participated in a standard elderly exercise program (senam lansia) as a comparison group to the Tai Chi group. Each session was led by an instructor and lasted approximately 30 minutes. Participants in this group completed the exercise sessions three times per week for eight weeks.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Tai Chi Exercise Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Tai Chi ExerciseElderly participants diagnosed with sarcopenia who are randomly assigned to participate in a supervised Tai Chi exercise program. |
| Elderly Exercise (Senam Lansia) Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Elderly exercise (senam lansia)Elderly participants diagnosed with sarcopenia who are randomly assigned to participate in a standard elderly exercise program |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 60 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Aged 60 years or older
- Meets the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS).
- Willing to participate in the study, capable of understanding the informed consent, and physically able to perform Tai Chi movements.
- Must be a resident of Makassar.
- Has either never participated in Tai Chi, or has previous experience with Tai Chi but stopped practicing for more than 4 weeks (ensuring they are not currently active practitioners).
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Cognitive impairment, indicated by a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 23 or lower.
- Hearing and/or speech impairments that make communication difficult. Presence of severe chronic diseases, such as heart failure, end-stage chronic kidney disease, malignancy, or the use of a pacemaker.
- Presence of edema (fluid retention/swelling).
- Experiencing lower extremity (leg) pain with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score of 5 or greater.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tai Chi ExerciseThe 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. | Behavioural | Tai Chi Exercise Group |
| 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. | Behavioural | Elderly Exercise (Senam Lansia) Group |
Primary outcome
Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 8)
This outcome measures health-related quality of life in older adults with sarcopenia using the Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire. The SarQoL questionnaire consists of 55 items covering seven domains: physical and mental health, locomotion, body composition, functionality, activities of daily living, leisure activities, and fears. The questionnaire generates a total SarQoL index score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better sarcopenia-related quality of life. The validated scoring algorithm is used to calculate the overall SarQoL index score.
Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 8)
This outcome measures depressive symptoms in older adults using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Each item is answered with a yes/no response and scored according to the established scoring criteria, with a total score ranging from 0 to 15. Higher scores indicate a greater severity of depressive symptoms. The GDS-15 is used to assess changes in depressive symptoms following the eight-week intervention.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Sep 2026.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Tai Chi Exercise and Elderly exercise (senam lansia) in people with Sarcopenia in Elderly, run by Hasanuddin University at 1 site in Indonesia.
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 4 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 23 Sep 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 Indonesia. 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?
Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire (time frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 8)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 23 Sep 2026.