Virtual Tai Chi in Older University Workers

This pilot, pragmatic behavioral intervention study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants aged 50+ were recruited from a university and assigned to immediate Tai Chi or a waitlist. Sessions were 3×/week for 6 weeks via Zoom. Some crossover occurred after assignment (partial randomization). Outcomes at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks. Primary outcome: PSQI. Retrospectively registered due to pandemic conditions.

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether the Tai Chi intervention improves sleep quality in older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does the Tai Chi intervention change global and component PSQI scores, and does baseline mindfulness modify intervention effects?

What medical problems do participants have during the study time period?

Sleep disturbance, especially among older adults, is linked to declines in overall well-being. Tai Chi has been identified as a promising tool to improve sleep quality.

Participants will:

* Enroll in a 6-week virtual Tai Chi program taught over Zoom. * Participants took three 50-minute classes every week and got recorded videos to practice on their own. * Half of the Participants started the classes right away, while a "waitlist" group had to wait 6 weeks before getting their turn with the exact same program. * What They Measured: The researchers tracked everyone's progress at the very start, at 6 weeks, and at 12 weeks. They specifically measured sleep quality (using a standard questionnaire called the PSQI) and examined how mindful participants were when they first joined.

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Key information

Conditions

Sleep Quality Dyssomnias Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders Sleep Wake Disorders

Age range

50 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona, 85724, United States

About this study

Sleep disturbance is a significant public health issue among older adults and is linked to declines in overall well-being. Tai Chi has been identified as a promising low-cost nonpharmacological strategy for improving sleep quality. However, evidence on the effectiveness of short-term virtual Tai Chi interventions remains limited, despite their potential value for older adults who face barriers to in-person participation. This study evaluated a 6-week virtual Tai Chi program delivered via Zoom. Participants attended three 50-minute sessions per week, with course recordings provided to support additional practice. A waitlist group received the same intervention after the initial 6-week period. Recruitment occurred on a university campus. Seven participants switched groups after randomization, resulting in incomplete randomization. Data were collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire baseline data were assessed. The intention-to-treat approach was used in the main analyses, with pre-post comparisons serving as sensitivity analyses.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

University Workers 50+ years of age
Consented to study

Exclusion criteria

Did not express interest in Tai Chi intervention
Did not consent to study

Treatment and study plan

Tai Chi (BaFa WuBu) / Qigong (Ba Duan Jing) intervention.

Behavioral

The virtual Tai Chi and Qigong intervention consisted of three 50-minute sessions per week for six weeks, led by three trained instructors. The sessions were delivered live online using Zoom. Sessions were held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and each class included 1) 10 minutes of warm-up; 2) 5 minutes of meditation; 3) 30 minutes of Tai Chi and Qigong practice; 4) 5 minutes of cool-down and summary.

Other names: Tai Chi, Qigong

Primary outcomes

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

Time frame: PSQI was collected at Baseline, 6-weeks, and 12 weeks

PSQI is a 19-item self-report questionnaire assessing sleep quality over the past month across seven components: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction. Each component is scored from 0 (no difficulty) to 3 (severe difficulty), yielding a global score range of 0 to 21. A global score >5 indicates poor sleep quality.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Arizona

Other

Registry information

Official study title

COVID-19 and University Re-entry/Reopening Strategies-- Addressing the Needs of Older Adults Using a Mixed Methods Approach.

Acronym: Saguaro TaiChi

Important dates

Study start: 2020
Primary completion: 2021
Study completion: 2021
First posted: Aug 11, 2026
Registry last updated: Aug 11, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed