Enhanced Tai Chi for Parkinson's Disease (Enhanced Tai Chi PD)

Summary

This pilot study evaluates whether a structured, Parkinson's disease-specific Tai Chi programme ("Enhanced Tai Chi") can improve motor and non-motor symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease (PD).

PD is a progressive neurological condition associated with motor impairments such as bradykinesia, rigidity, gait disturbance and postural instability, as well as non-motor symptoms including fatigue, pain, mood disturbance, sleep problems and cognitive changes. Although pharmacological treatments improve many motor symptoms, balance and postural control often respond poorly, contributing to falls and reduced independence.

Enhanced Tai Chi is a tailored programme developed specifically for people with PD, incorporating elements of Tai Chi and Qi Gong focused on balance control, coordination, postural alignment, body awareness and confidence in movement. This single-site, randomised, controlled pilot trial will enrol 30 adults with idiopathic PD (Hoehn \& Yahr stages I-III), randomised in a 2:1 ratio to Enhanced Tai Chi plus usual clinical care or usual clinical care alone.

Participants in the intervention group will complete 36 supervised one-hour sessions over 12 weeks (three sessions per week: one in-person and two delivered remotely), with optional independent practice encouraged. Adherence will be monitored through attendance records. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. Findings will inform feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy estimates to support the design of a future definitive randomised controlled trial.

Conditions

• Parkinson Disease (PD)

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Enhanced Tai Chi (Enhanced-Tai-Chi-PD)

Participants assigned to this arm receive Enhanced Tai Chi, a structured mind-body exercise program adapted specifically for people with Parkinson's disease. The program consists of 36 one-hour sessions delivered over 12 weeks (3 sessions/week: 1 in-person studio session and 2 remote sessions via Microsoft Teams). The intervention incorporates seven movement components including Qi Gong, single and double silk-reeling, standing energy/postural work, balance walking, Fa Jin (energy release), and a ten-direction balance form. Sessions focus on balance, postural control, fluid movement, coordination, breathing, and body alignment. Participants are encouraged to complete short additional home practice, and session attendance is logged to monitor compliance.

OTHER

Usual Treatment (Standard Clinical Care)

Participants continue standard clinical care for Parkinson's disease as determined by their treating physician. No Enhanced Tai Chi or other study-specific exercise intervention is provided during the study period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• King's College Hospital NHS Trust

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Julie Whitney, MSc · King's College Hospital NHS Trust

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-05-01

Primary Completion

2026-04-01

Completion

2026-08-01

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations