Effects of Exercise and Acupoint Stimulation on Frailty and Sleep in Taiwanese Adults Aged 50 and Older

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are exploring the connections between frailty, daily physical activity, sleep quality, and Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM body types among older adults in Taiwan. The study focuses on pre-frail adults aged 50 and over, aiming to evaluate how combined exercise and acupoint stimulation may affect frailty severity, sleep, and daily physical function. This is a randomized controlled trial assessing non-invasive interventions to prevent worsening frailty and improve wellbeing. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group follows a 12-week Vivifrail exercise program daily for 45 to 60 minutes, combined with personalized daytime and sleep-related acupoint self-massage, performed 2 to 3 times daily. The other group receives the same 12-week exercise program along with sleep hygiene education but without acupoint stimulation. The exercise program includes walking, resistance, balance, and flexibility training tailored for pre-frail older adults. During the study, participants complete frailty assessments and sleep quality evaluations at the start, after 4 weeks, and after 12 weeks. They keep a 7-day sleep diary and fill out related questionnaires. Activity is monitored with a wrist-worn actigraph and physical measurements are taken. The study measures changes in frailty and sleep quality to understand the effects of the interventions. The total study period covers 12 weeks of intervention with ongoing monitoring and data collection.

Acupoint Stimulation and Exercise for Taiwanese Pre-frail Older Adults