Tai Chi for Pain and Balance in Older Adults

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

This project will enroll older adults with multisite pain and higher fall risk to participate in a 6-month Tai Chi program or a light physical exercise comparison. Researchers will measure pain levels, how pain affects daily life, fear of falling, and changes in thinking and mobility at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, plus track falls for a year. They will also examine biomarkers related to pain and assess gait under single- and dual-task conditions to see how Tai Chi might support cognitive-motor function. The study builds on prior pilot work and uses a single-blind randomized design to compare Tai Chi with light exercise. The goal is to determine whether Tai Chi can improve pain, cognition, mobility, and fall risk in this population.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• University of Massachusetts Boston
  Boston, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: You, Tongjian — University of Massachusetts Boston
• Study coordinator: You, Tongjian

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About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.