A Specific Dance Intervention in Older Adults in Hong Kong

Summary

This study is a fully-powered randomised controlled trial and an essential follow-up study of our pilot work. The 21-style specific dance intervention to improve the balance and reduce the risks of falls (SDIIBRF) was suggested to be interesting, achievable, and compliable, according to the participants' feedback in the investigators' pilot work. Due to the expertly-designed and specifically-designed characteristics of the 21 dance styles in the SDIIBRF for improving balance and reducing risk of falls in older adults, the dance steps included in the SDIIBRF are unique and are largely different from the dance interventions that have already been reported in the literature. Based on the encouraging results of the preliminary efficacy in the investigators' pilot work and dance being a mind-body exercise, the investigators hypothesise that the specific dance programme will be efficacious in reducing the frequency of falls (primary outcome measure), improving the balance (secondary outcome measure for the main fall risk factor), and reducing the physical and psychological fall risk factors (secondary outcome measures) in Hong Kong's at-risk older adults. The findings could provide important new evidence for a feasible option for older adults as an innovative fall prevention exercise programme. The research question is "Can the 21-style SDIIBRF reduce the frequency of falls, improve the balance, and reduce the fall risks in Hong Kong's older adults at moderate to high risk of falling? Therefore, the aim of this proposed study is to examine the efficacy of the 21-style SDIIBRF in reducing the frequency of falls, improving the balance, and reducing the fall risks in Hong Kong's older adults by comparing it with a wait-list control.

Conditions

• Fall
• Age Problem

Interventions

OTHER

The 21-style specific dance exercises

The 21 dance styles (dance in a group), chosen and modified from seven dance styles, including cha-cha, jive, rumba, salsa, waltz, tango, and macarena, were developed by a group of experienced dance and rehabilitation experts and have been previously practised by a group of older adults in our pilot work, demonstrating good feasibility and positive participants' feedback.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong

  collaborator OTHER

• Education University of Hong Kong

  collaborator OTHER

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Thomson Wong, PhD, BScPT · The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

65 Years

Max Age

99 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-12-01

Primary Completion

2026-05-31

Completion

2026-05-31

Countries

• China

Study Locations