Effects of Tai Chi Therapy Versus Qi-Gong in Stage-I Parkinson's Patients.

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age50-65
SponsorLahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences

About this trial

This study has important clinical, academic, and practical relevance in neuromuscular rehabilitation. Clinically, it aims to identify effective and tolerable rehabilitation strategies for individuals with Parkinson's disease by comparing Tai Chi Therapy with Qi-Gong there by supporting evidence-based physiotherapy practice and improving patient adherence. Academically, it contributes to the limited literature on comparative effectiveness of these interventions and incorporates patient-centered outcomes such as exercise perception, which are often underreported. From a practical and societal perspective, identifying a more acceptable and effective approach may enhance long-term participation in rehabilitation, potentially slow disease progression, and reduce the overall healthcare burden associated with Parkinson's disease.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Diagnosis of PD based on the Hoehn & Yahr staging system (Stages I).

Male or female patients aged between 50-65 years.

Currently receiving stable anti-Parkinsonian medication, with no changes in the treatment regimen for at least 3 months.

Basic self-care ability with no severe cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score ≥24).

Disqualifiers

Depression, as assessed based on a score of >16 for the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).

Recent deep brain stimulation (DBS) treatment.

Use of medication that interferes with cognition, alertness, or attention.

Current participation in an exercise training program.

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Tai Chi

    Other intervention

    Group A will receive 8 weeks of standard conventional physical therapy plus Tai Chi (40 min of Tai Chi and 20 min of conventional physical therapy) total duration of session will be 60 minutes. The most commonly applied Tai Chi style will be Yang style.

  • Qi Gong

    Other intervention

    Group B will receive 8 weeks of standard conventional physical therapy (20 minutes) plus Health Qigong Baduanjin and wuqinxi ( 40 minutes) with total duration of 60 minutes, 2 times a week each pattern for 8 weeks.

Treatment groups

50 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Tai ChiExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Qi GongExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale

It will be used for motor function. UPDRS shows high ICCs like 0.90 for Motor, 0.85 for ADL).A higher score indicates greater motor impairment and disease severity. Total score is 108 across 27 items. It will be used at pre and post intervention.

Time frame
8-12 weeks
2

Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is a widely used clinical test with 14 functional tasks (like sitting, standing, reaching, turning) to measure static and dynamic postural control and functional balance, primarily to assess fall risk in older adults and neurological patients (stroke, Parkinson's). It scores tasks from 0 (unable) to 4 (independent) for a total of 56, with lower scores indicating higher fall risk, helping therapists plan interventions. It Shows very high intra-rater (same tester) and inter-rater (different testers) reliability, with Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) often around 0.97-0.99. The Berg Balance Scale have 14-item. Each item is scored on a 0-4 scale, with a total score of 56 points indicating no balance deficit and lower scores correlating with higher fall risk. The patients with the scores between 0-20 have High fall risk (may need wheelchair), 21-40: Medium fall risk (may need cane/walker) and 41-56: Low fall risk (independent mobility).

Time frame
8-12 weeks

Secondary outcomes

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

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