Combined mindfulness and walking-pole program for older adults
Official title: Social Prescribing for Health Promotion in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Prospective Cohort Study Combining Mindfulness Meditation and Nordic Walking Pole Exercise
Run by National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan · NCT07540117 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program will try a 4-week mindfulness course followed by 12 weeks of walking-pole exercise to see if it improves physical function, mood, and sleep for community-dwelling adults aged 55 and older.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 55 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 1500 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Zhunan, Miaoli) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 14, 2026 |
| Main results expected | April 2029 |
| Study ends | April 2029 |
| Registry record updated | April 23, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07540117 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are community-dwelling adults aged 55 or older who can walk independently or with an assistive device, have normal cognition or only mild cognitive impairment, and are willing to attend group sessions and complete study assessments.
✕Probably not a fit
People with recent major surgery or hospitalization, severe cardiovascular or other unstable medical conditions that make exercise unsafe, moderate to severe dementia or severe psychiatric disorders, or an inability to comply with the mindfulness and walking-pole programs are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This prospective, single-group repeated-measures project delivers a 16-week intervention to community-dwelling older adults, beginning with weekly group mindfulness sessions for four weeks and followed by weekly group walking-pole exercise for 12 weeks. All participants receive the same sequential intervention and are encouraged to practice mindfulness at home with guided audio between sessions. Outcomes are measured at baseline, after the mindfulness phase, after completion of the full intervention, and three months after the intervention ends to track change over time. Primary outcomes include physical function, mood and well-being, sleep quality, and indicators of continued participation and lifestyle change.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combined program could improve mobility, balance, emotional well-being, and sleep while encouraging sustained physical activity among older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown benefits of mindfulness for mood and sleep and of structured walking programs for balance and mobility, but combining these approaches in a social-prescribing, community-based sequence is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 55 years and older * Community-dwelling older adults * Able to walk independently or with assistive devices * Normal cognitive function or mild cognitive impairment, with ability to understand and follow study procedures * Willing to sign informed consent * Willing to participate in the intervention and complete study assessments Exclusion Criteria: * Major surgery or hospitalization within the previous 3 months * Severe cardiovascular disease or other medical condition making exercise inappropriate, based on physician assessment * Moderate to severe dementia or other severe psychiatric disorder * Inability to comply with the 4-week mindfulness meditation program or the 12-week walking-pole exercise program
Where it's running
-
National Health Research Institutes
Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Ren-Hua Chung, PhD
- Email: rchung@nhri.edu.tw
- Phone: 886-37206166
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.