Tai Chi Exercise to Improve Quality of Life and Depression in Elderly With Sarcopenia

This study aims to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi exercise on quality of life and depressive symptoms in elderly with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is characterized by a progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength, which may contribute to impaired physical function, reduced quality of life, and an increased risk of adverse health outcomes among older adults. Specifically, this study investigates the effects of an eight-week Tai Chi exercise program on health-related quality of life, assessed using the Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire, and depressive symptoms, assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), in elderly individuals diagnosed with sarcopenia. The primary research question of this study is whether an eight-week Tai Chi exercise program can improve quality of life and reduce depressive symptoms in elderly individuals with sarcopenia. Furthermore, this study aims to determine whether Tai Chi exercise results in greater improvements in SarQoL scores and GDS-15 scores compared with a control group participating in standard elderly exercise.