This study aimed to investigate the effects of a combined Tai Chi and resistance exercise program on physical pre-frailty in Japanese community-dwelling older adults with chronic pain.
Participants were adults aged over 60 years with chronic pain who did not require nursing care. They were allocated to an intervention group (Tai Chi + resistance exercise) or a control group (resistance exercise only). Both Tai Chi and resistance exercise were conducted once a week for one hour per session over 12 weeks. Tai Chi was supervised by a qualified Yang style Tai Chi practitioner, and resistance exercise was instructed by a fitness instructor using tools and body weight. Physical function was assessed at baseline and 12 weeks after the intervention for handgrip strength and 5 m gait speed. Pre-frailty was assessed using the Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study (J-CHS) criteria (shrinking, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, and low activity).
A total of 71 participants were allocated, with 38 in the intervention group and 30 in the control group. After 12 weeks, the prevalence of pre-frailty decreased from 67% to 50% in the control group (p=0.19), while in the intervention group, it decreased from 74% to 53%, showing a marginally significant change (p=0.057). Component-specific results for pre-frailty showed no significant improvement in all components in the control group, while in the intervention group, only exhaustion showed a significant improvement from 66% to 40% (p=0.02). Sensitivity analysis showed a significant increase in handgrip strength (continuous value) after 12 weeks in the intervention group, but no significant change in the control group (p0.01).
The combined Tai Chi and resistance exercise program was more effective in enhancing physical (handgrip strength) and psychological (exhaustion) function and reducing the prevalence of pre-frailty in older adults with chronic pain compared to resistance exercise alone.
This study highlights that multi-component exercise programs, incorporating both resistance training and mind-body exercises like Tai Chi, offer significant benefits in managing pre-frailty in older adults with chronic pain. Such programs not only improve physical and psychological functioning but may also contribute to increasing social support and quality of life for older people by increasing opportunities for social interaction. Integrating these comprehensive approaches into physiotherapy practice and public health initiatives could enhance overall care and help prevent frailty in older populations.
Pre-frailty
Older adults
