Analysis of the Effects of Tai Chi on Muscle Strength and Flexibility

타이치 운동의 근력 및 유연성의 효과에 관한 논문분석

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of Tai Chi on the muscle strength and flexibility. Method: 10 articles from Medline search of foreign journals(1981-2003) and 4 from Korean nursing journals (1981-2003) were surveyed. The research are analyzed according to research design, subjects, and dependent variables. Results: Research on Tai Chi Exercise increased rapidly in the 1990's. The experimental research design was more reported than the comparative design. The experimental design included; 21.4% one group pre-posttest design, 35.7% quasi-experimental design and 28.6% randomized design. Out of the subjects; 64.4% of papers were healthy older people, and 35.6% of papers were patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Style of Tai Chi was mostly used Yang or Sun form. Muscle strength was usually measured at lower extremity or grip strength. Classical Yang style or Long form was more effective to improve muscle strength. 75% of papers were significantly improvement in grip strength and 71.4% of papers in flexibility. Conclusion: To properly study the positive effects of Tai Chi exercise, it is suggested that meta analysis needs to be done to integrate the various results.