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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05621694

Exploring Oxytocin Response to Meditative Movement

This pilot study is designed to test effects of a single session of meditative movement (Tai Chi Easy) on older adults' blood pressure, perceptions of connection, mood, and oxytocin levels.

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Key information

Conditions

Hypertension Cardiovascular Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

55 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, United States

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About this study

Endogenous oxytocin (the "cuddle hormone") is associated with lowering blood pressure (BP), suggesting that finding ways to increase oxytocin even in the absence of social connection, may be beneficial. Meditative movement emphasizing breath, meditative state and flow-inducing movements holds potential for reducing BP, improving mood and releasing oxytocin. In a single-group pilot study we exposed 21 OAs with mild-moderate hypertension to a 50-minute "Tai Chi Easy (TCE)" (simplified Tai Chi/Qigong) session, collecting BP, saliva samples for oxytocin, and psychosocial measures (connection, mood) pre/post intervention.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 55-80 --BP above 120/80 -

Exclusion criteria

  • having a neurologic disorder such as Parkinson's, seizure disorder, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease
  • answered "yes" to one or more questions on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). The PAR-Q is a seven-question assessment that determines one's readiness, safety and ability to engage in physical activity and is safely validated for older adults

Treatment and study plan

Tai Chi Easy

Behavioral

A meditative movement practice that includes simple qigong movement/breath practices and single, repeated tai chi movements taught to generate a meditative state and flow

Other names: Qigong/Tai Chi; taiji

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Blood Pressure

    Time frame: Change from baseline (pre-intervention) blood pressure to immediately after the 50-minute intervention

    Using blood pressure cuff, conducting two consecutive readings of systolic and diastolic

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Profile of Mood States; Short Form

    Time frame: Change from pre-intervention mood to immediately post-50-minute intervention point

    Using only subscales for depression and tension, 14 items with response format 0-4, reporting mean of responses, range 0-4 with higher scores indicating higher levels of depression and tension.

  2. Change in perception of Connection (this is not a published scale, no formal name, created for this study)

    Time frame: Change from pre-intervention to immediately after the 50-minute intervention

    Two items assessing perception of connection with others and connection with self, score range

  3. Change in Salivary Oxytocin

    Time frame: Change from pre-intervention to immediately after the 50-minute intervention

    Saliva collection pre and post-intervention

Other outcomes

  1. The De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale

    Time frame: pre-intervention only

    6 items each scored either 0 (not at all) 1 (somewhat lonely) or 2 (more lonely), score is computed as a mean across items, range 0-6 with higher scores indicating more loneliness

  2. Flow State Scale

    Time frame: immediately after the intervention

    Used to assess perceptions of the experience of flow while performing the Tai Chi Easy intervention. 36 items, Score range 36-80, high scores indicate greater sense of flow.

  3. Meditative Movement Inventory

    Time frame: immediately after the intervention

    Scales that assess the experience of meditative state and breath focus during intervention, 11 items, score range 11-66 (or reported as a mean of the scores on the scale, then 1-6 range), with higher numbers indicating less breath focus and meditative state.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Arizona State University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2022
First posted
Nov 18, 2022
Registry last updated
Sep 11, 2023

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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