Adapting Chinese Qigong mind-body exercise for healthy aging in older community-dwelling low-income latino adults: Pilot feasibility study

Zenong Yin, Cristina E. Martinez, Shiyu Li, Martha Martinez, Kezhi Peng, William M. Land, Sarah L. Ullevig, Adelita Cantu, Sharon Falk, Arthur E. Hernández, Catherine Ortega, Deborah Parra-Medina, Maureen J. Simmonds

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Research translating the evidence for the benefit of mind-body exercise in older Latinos with limited accss to community-based healthy aging programs is sparse. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of Function Improvement Exercises for Older Sedentary Community-Dwelling Latino Residents (FITxOlder), a Community Health Worker (CHW)-led, mobile technology-facilitated Chinese Qigong mind-body exercise program for healthy aging and to explore its impact on physical and cognitive function and quality of life (QoL) in older community-dwelling low-income Latino adults. Methods: This study was designed as a Stage 1 feasibility study to develop and pilot-test FITxOlder. In Phase 1 (Stage 1A), a working group of seniors, CHWs, and senior center staff guided the adaptation of Chinese Qigong into a healthy aging program. In Phase 2 (Stage 1B), 49 older Latino adults participated in a 3-arm controlled study to test the feasibility and preliminary effect of CHW-led FITxOlder on physical and cognitive function and QoL measures over 16 weeks. Results: Although the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the implementation of the study protocol, we found favorable results regarding participant recruitment, retention, and fidelity of implementation. Notable findings included an 89.3% participant retention, 79.4% of the participants completed at least 70% of the weekly exercise goal, and no report of adverse events. The effects on intervention outcome measures were modest. Conclusions: FITxOlder is feasible for promoting healthy aging in older Latino adults; future research needs to compare its feasibility with other low-impact exercise programs for healthy aging using a randomized controlled trial.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere29188
JournalJMIR Aging
Volume4
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Community-based participatory research
  • Five animal play
  • MHealth
  • Wuqinxi

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Gerontology
  • Health Informatics
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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