Taekwondo Program for Preventing Falls in Older Adults

Conditions

• Fall Prevention Education Control Condition
• Taekwondo-based Fall Prevention Exercise Condition

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

55 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• Fall prevention exercise using Taekwondo — BEHAVIORAL
  Current fall-prevention exercise programs have a limitation in maintaining exercise adherence behaviors or increasing physical activities once the intervention is completed.2 The theory-based exercise program shows a higher adherence and retention rate.3,4 Taekwondo (TKD), one type of martial arts, can be a potential channel to deliver a theory-based fall prevention exercise program. Therefore, this study aims to test the feasibility of the potential 12 Taekwondo-based fall prevention exercise program for older adults and its preliminary efficacy using RCT.
• Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention — BEHAVIORAL
  Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention online education includes three modules. Module1 has three sessions that provide overview of fall prevention such as fall statistics, and preventable risk factors. Module2 has eight sessions that provide tips to ensure the home safety for fall prevention. Module3 has 12 sessions that provide tips for personal safety from nutrition to mental health. Participants will complete this module at their own pace, and report their progress through email or text message each week.

Study Details

Falls in older adults are a public health crisis, as 30% of older adults fall each year, with a mortality rate of 78%.1 Fall-related healthcare costs are over 50 billion dollars.1 Therefore, preventing older adults from falling is important in both individual and public health aspects by increasing their quality of life and reducing healthcare costs. However, the current fall-prevention exercise programs have a limitation in maintaining exercise adherence behaviors or increasing physical activities once the intervention is completed.2 The theory-based exercise program shows a higher adherence and retention rate.3,4 Taekwondo (TKD), one type of martial arts, can be a potential channel to deliver a theory-based fall prevention exercise program. Therefore, this study aims to test the feasibility of the potential 12 Taekwondo-based fall prevention exercise program for older adults and its preliminary efficacy using a randomized controlled trial.

Key Dates

Start date

Jan 13, 2026

Status verified

Apr 2026

Primary completion

Sep 30, 2026

Completion

Dec 31, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment

20 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

PREVENTION

Arms

• Experimental: Taekwondo exercise arm
  Participants will received 12 sessions of Taekwondo-based fall prevention exercises. The exercise will be delivered twice a week for 6-weeks at the local recreational center. Each sessions includes three components: static and dynamic stretching warm-up, basic Taekwondo movement exercises, and kicking exercises. Static and dynamic warm-up was developed based on the evidence-based fall prevention exercise, The Otago Exercise Program. The basic Taekwondo movement exercises include three basic stances (walking, front, and horse riding stances) , and hand movements (low, middle, and high block, and middle punch). Kicking exercise includes target kicking using front kicks.
• Active Comparator: Fall prevention education arm
  Participants will received the Live Strong and Safe Program on Fall Prevention online education program. It includes three modules. Module1 has three sessions that providing overview of fall prevention such as fall statistics, and preventable risk factors. Module2 has eight sessions that provides tips to ensure home safety for fall prevention. Module3 has 12 sessions that provides tips for personal safety from nutrition to mental health. Participants will complete this module at their own pace, and report their progress through email or text message each week.

Primary Outcome Measure

Recruitment Feasibility [ Time Frame: Post-intervention at week 7. ]

Locations (1)

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