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NCT Number: NCT07025967

Using Mölkky for Community-dwelling Older Adults

Physical activity is known to be a protector against major diseases. However, they usually do closed-skilled types, like jogging, swimming, Tai Chi. Our research showed that older adults benefit more from engaging in open-skilled activities. Mölkky is a Finnish throwing game that is considered an open-skilled activity.

The project investigates the benefits of Mölkky as an open-skilled physical activity and home activity for older adults.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Older Adults Without Any Specific Clinical Condition Behavior Motor Activity

Age range

60 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong

About this study

This study aims to examine the impacts of Mölkky on the overall functioning and psychological well-being of older adults when compared with a traditional home activity, including exercise and cognitive training.

45 older adults aged 60 or above from elderly service centres complete both baseline and post-program assessments. The Mölkky group receives Mölkky training in preparation for a Mölkky tournament, while the home activity group receives conventionally prescribed exercises and cognitive training. Assessments, including physical, cognitive, psychological and quality of life assessments, were conducted twice, at baseline and after 8 weeks.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • aged 60 or above,
  • having no known pre-existing impairments that would prevent them from physical exercises, and
  • had no known terminal disease leading to a life expectancy of less than one year.

Exclusion criteria

  • cognitive impairment that makes them unable to complete the assessments, and
  • a history of significant cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease or musculoskeletal dysfunction or exhibited steady hypertension (160/90 mmHg or above) that places them at risk of participating in an exercise program as determined by the centers

Treatment and study plan

Mölkky

Behavioral

The Mölkky group participants receive two-hour weekly or bi-weekly Mölkky training sessions at their elderly community centers. In the sessions, participants are divided into two teams, taking turns throwing a wooden pin called the Mölkky to hit 12 smaller skittles. The fallen skittles are placed upright where they landed after each turn. The first team that reaches exactly 50 points wins.

Home activity

Behavioral

The participants in the home program receive weekly visits by social workers, physiotherapists, or occupational therapists at their homes for an activity regime including closed-skilled exercises and cognitive training. The closed-skilled exercises included stretching, elastic band exercises and functional exercises like tandem standing and bridging. Cognitive training included reality orientation, memory exercises, calculation, and mind-body exercises like Baduanjin.

Primary outcomes

  1. Chinese Stroop Color and Word Test (Stroop)

    Time frame: Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks; 6 months after the intervention

    The Chinese Stroop is used to assess participants' selective attention and cognitive flexibility. There are three sub-tests in the Stroop, identifying color of dots (Stroop I), identifying the words under incongruent conditions (Stroop II) and identifying the color of words under incongruent conditions (Stroop III). The time spent on each sub-test and errors which are not self-corrected are recorded. Time interference score is calculated by the formula: Interference = Stroop III - [(Stroop I + Stroop II) / 2], a lower time interference score indicates better performance. The Chinese Stroop has good reliability and validity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Hong Kong version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA)

    Time frame: Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks; 6 months after the intervention

    The HK-MoCA is used to assess participants' overall cognitive ability including visuospatial function, naming, delayed recall, attention, language, abstraction, and orientation. A higher score out of 30 indicates better cognition. The HK-MoCA is a reliable and valid cognitive assessment.

  2. Two-Minute Step Test (TMST)

    Time frame: Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks; 6 months after the intervention

    The TMST is used to assess participants' lower limb muscle strength, endurance, and cardiorespiratory endurance. Participants are asked to repeat the action of stepping alternatively in two minutes, the total number of times the right knee is lifted is recorded. Post-it notes placed on the wall next to the participants are used as a height marker for each step, the greater the number of steps that meet the marker, the better the participants' cardiovascular fitness. The TMST is a reliable and valid assessment tool.

  3. Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)

    Time frame: Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks; 6 months after the intervention

    The TUG is used to assess participants' functional mobility. Participants are asked to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around and go back to their seat. Time used is recorded, a shorter time indicates better physical functioning. The TUG is both reliable and valid assessment.

  4. Geriatric Depression Scale Cantonese Version (GDS-C)

    Time frame: Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks; 6 months after the intervention

    The GDS-C is used to assess participants' psychological well-being. Participants will answer 15 yes-no questions regarding their perception and attitude of their daily lives. A score of 8 or above indicates depressive symptoms. The GDS-C is reliable and valid.

  5. EuroQol-five Dimensions Questionnaire - Hong Kong Chinese version (EQ-5D-5L)

    Time frame: Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks; 6 months after the intervention

    The EQ-5D-5L is used to assess health-related QoL. Participants will rate their health states from 1 to 5 (1 indicates no problem and 5 indicates extreme problems/unable to perform) based on the severity of their problems in 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. The 5-levels of health states are converted to a utility value using a local value. The EQ-5D-5L is reliable and valid.

Other outcomes

  1. Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PAES)

    Time frame: Before the intervention to the end of intervention at 8 weeks

    The PAES is used to assess participants' attitudes towards physical activity. Participants will rate eight bipolar items by the scale of 1 to 7 on enjoyment, emotion, and engagement level. The negative items (Items 1, 4, 5 and 7) are reverse coded, meaning that score of 1 will be changed to 7, 2 changed to 6, 3 changed to 5 and vice versa. A score of 4 will remain unchanged for these negative items. The sum of scores of items is calculated. A higher PAES score indicates a greater level of enjoyment in physical activity. The PAES is reliable and valid.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Using Mölkky for Community-dwelling Older Adults - A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jun 18, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 1, 2025

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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