Acute Effect of Exergaming Based Sitting Tai Chi

Summary

This study examines whether a single session of exergaming-based seated Tai Chi can acutely improve working memory, executive function, and prefrontal cortical efficiency in younger and older adults, compared with seated stretching. Using a within-subject crossover design, 40 participants aged 18-30 years and 60-75 years will complete both conditions in counterbalanced order on separate days. Cognitive performance will be assessed with Flanker and n-back tasks, while prefrontal activity will be recorded with fNIRS over the dorsolateral, ventrolateral, and frontopolar prefrontal cortex. Neural efficiency will be estimated by integrating task performance with task-evoked oxygenated hemoglobin responses.

The Tai Chi intervention is a 40-minute seated, exergame-guided 12-form routine preceded and followed by brief warm-up and cool-down periods. The control condition is a time-matched seated stretching programme without Tai Chi-specific movements or game feedback. Both conditions will be delivered at light-to-moderate intensity and supervised for safety and adherence.

The study tests whether acute exergaming-based seated Tai Chi produces greater post-intervention improvements in cognitive performance and more efficient prefrontal activation than stretching, and whether these effects differ by age group. Findings may clarify how a feasible seated mind-body exergame influences acute cognitive and neural responses across the adult lifespan.

Conditions

• Healthy

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Exergaming based sitting Tai Chi

An acute exergaming-based seated Tai Chi protocol will be adapted from a newly developed 12-week training programme by our team, and will be further aligned with acute Tai Chi session parameters reported by a previous Tai Chi study, including comparable total duration, work-rest structure, and target light-to-moderate intensity. Participants will perform upper-limb and trunk movements derived from traditional Tai Chi forms, adapted for a seated posture and integrated into an interactive exergame environment that provides visual feedback and performance scoring to enhance engagement and standardize practice. Movements will be paced using on-screen cues and visual and auditory signals to control tempo across participants.

BEHAVIORAL

Seated Stretching

In the seated stretching condition, participants will complete a series of structured, low-intensity exercise program that would contain comparable social interaction and enjoyment without providing any strength and balance training benefits of Tai Chi. This will match in overall duration and approximate movement amplitude to the Tai Chi sequence but without game-based feedback or Tai Chi-specific components.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hong Kong Metropolitan University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Tai Wa Liu · School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-06-01

Primary Completion

2027-03-31

Completion

2027-03-31

Countries

• Hong Kong

Study Locations