• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.188-202
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• 2003

The aim of study was to investigate the effects of 12 forms of Sun-style Tai-Chi for arthritis(TCA) on physical symptom(pain, tenderness, swelling fatigue, and blood pressure), physical function(balance, flexibility, grip strength) and social-psychological health status in osteoarthritis(OA) patients and rheumatoid arthritis(RA) patients. This study was done with one group pretest-posttest design. A total 21 arthritis patients(6 OA patient and 15 RA patient) participated in 60 minute session consisting of warm-up exercise 12-main movement including qigong, and cool-down exercise twice a week for 6weeks. Physiological and social-psychological variables were measured before and after TCA 12 form. The researcher who completed a Tai Chi workshop for exercise leaders in Australia and Seoul taught the Tai Chi movement step by step until the patient felt comfort enough to perform them correctly by themselves during the first 4 weeks. At the last 2 weeks, the subject perform 10-15set of these at a session with traditional music to help patients move in a slow tempo. TCA 12 forms program showed significant improvement in fatigue(p=0.039) of rheumatoid arthritis patient and pain(p=0.006), fatigue(p=0.013), tenderness(p=0.032), flexibility(rt arm up, p=0.014, If arm up, P=0.003), grip strength(rt hand, p=0.002, If hand, P=0.003) of osteoarthritis patients. With assessment by Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2 questionnaire(AIMS2), physical component(0.002) and social interaction(0.025) on osteoarthritis patients were significantly improved. Evaluation of the participants about TCA exercise noted that the exercise was fairly easy(23.6%), moderately difficult(57.1%), and fairly difficult(14.3%). Considering the result of this study, TCA exercise program was more effective in pain, tenderness, grip strength, flexibility, and physical and social interaction on osteoarthritis patients than rheumatoid arthritis patients. Tai-Chi for arthritis 12 form was an appropriate intensity exercise for osteoarthritis patients.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.105-112
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Tai Chi exercise on muscle strength, balance, flexibility and bone mineral density among community dwelling elderly women. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a nonequivalent comparison group was utilized, Elderly women were recruited from the community settings and assigned to either the treatment group (n=30) or the comparison group (n=34). Both groups completed the pretest and the posttest measures at six months with an 29.7% of dropouts. Tai Chi exercise was performed for 60 minutes, three times a week for 24 weeks. The study participants were referred to the sports clinic of the university hospital where an exercise therapist and a technician measured muscle strength, balance, flexibility, and bone mineral density without the knowledge of the group assignment. Data were collected from June 14, 2010 to May 27, 2011. Results: At the completion of 6 month Tai Chi exercise, the experimental group showed a significant difference in knee flexor strength (t=3.26 p=.002), flexibility (t=-2.93, p=.005), and bone mineral density in femur (t=2.20, p=.032), compared to the control group. Conclusion: Tai Chi exercise could be performed safely to community dwelling elderly women and effective for preventing declining in physical function in this population. Whether or not this health benefits would lead fall prevention will require further study.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.334-342
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Tai Chi exercise on flexibility, balance, walking ability, muscle strength, bone mineral density, and fracture risk in institutionalized elders. Method: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a nonequivalent comparison group was utilized, and 53 older adults living in one institution were recruited and assigned to one of two groups, experimental group (18) or comparison (20). Both groups completed posttest measures at 6 months. There was a 31% rate of dropouts. Tai Chi exercise was provided twice a week for 24 weeks. Outcome measurements were conducted by a physiotherapist at a university hospital health promotion center who did not know the group assignment. Results: At 6 months, the experimental group had significantly greater grip strength(t=2.12, p=.04), back muscle strength (t=2.42, p=.02), balance (t=5.31, p<001), and flexibility (t=3.57, p<.001). They also showed significantly greater bone mineral density of lumbar spine and femur, and reduced fracture risk. Conclusion: Tai Chi exercise was safely and effectively used with institutionalized elders for 6 months and significantly improved physical fitness, bone mineral density along with a reduction in fracture risk. Whether Tai Chi exercise would lead to prevention of fall episodes and fall related fractures in this population will require further study.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.282-293
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• 2012

Purpose: The study aimed to examine the effects of Tai Chi fall prevention program on risk factors for fall, fear of falling, and quality of life among elderly women living in the community. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with non-equivalent control group was used. Sixty participants were recruited from 4 senior citizen centers in a city. The 1-hour Tai Chi fall prevention program was provided three times a week for 6 months to the experimental group. Risk factors for fall including fracture risk and bone mineral density, fear of falling, and quality of life were measured at the baseline and at 6 months. Results: Participants were 75 years old in average. At the completion of 6 month program, the experimental group showed lower fracture risks, less fear of falling, and higher scores in several domains of quality of life than the control group, after controlling for the pretest scores, fall experience, and regular exercise habit. Conclusion: The Tai Chi fall prevention program was safely applied to elderly women with improvement in fracture risk, fear of falling, and several domains of quality of life. Future study is necessary to confirm the longer effect of the Tai Chi program for the prevention of fall episodes.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the effect of Tai Chi Qigong exercise program on insulin resistance and blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes. Method: This was a quasi-experimental study used a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Participants included 39 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (ages between 40-70)(experimental group, 19, control group, 20). The Tai Chi Qigong exercise program consisted of 5 minute warming up, 30-minute main exercise, and 5 minute cooling down, and was conducted twice a week for 10 weeks. The outcome variables were insulin resistance (proinsulin, C-peptide, insulin, insulin sensitivity index) and blood glucose (fasting, post prandial 2hr, HbA1c). Data was analyzed using ANCOVA, with pre-test values as covariates, to examine difference between pre and post measures between the two groups. Results: The Tai Chi Qigong was effective in lowering postprandial 2hr blood glucose. Conclusion: Twice a week 10 week-Tai Chi Qigong exercise seems to be too short to improve insulin excretion or resistance, and fasting blood sugar and HbA1C in patients with type 2 DM. A Tai Chi Qigong program at least 3 times per week or longer is recommended.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.195-202
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• 2022

This study explored the effects of Tai Chi on cardiovascular disease(CVD) risk factors among the Korean elderly. 68 elderly were selected and divided into two groups: an experiment group(34 patients) and a control group(34 patients). The experimental group practiced Tai Chi for 60 minutes a day, five times per week for 6 weeks total. The control group continued their routine levels of activity. CVD risk factors evaluated in both groups including body mass index, fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C). Each factor was measured before and after the 6-week intervention. Results showed that the experimental group had a significant decrease in measurements of body mass index, fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, and LDL-C levels. The experimental group also had an increase HDL-C level. Based on such findings, we believe that Tai Chi exercise program would function as an effective intervention strategy for preventing CVD in the elderly. Therefore, it is recommended that health and medical service personnel should seek to apply Tai Chi intervention as a daily component of elderly care.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.252-263
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• 2023

Purpose: To assess the feasibility, safety, and preliminary estimates of effectiveness of Tai Chi on the functional outcomes of older adults in the community. Methods: This was a mixed-method study that employed a single-group repeated measure design and in-depth interviews. Nine older adults were recruited from the community were recruited to participate in a Tai Chi program, conducted twice weekly for 6 months. Research outcomes included physical function, cognitive function, and quality of life, measured at intervals of 3 and 6 months. Findings: Tai Chi exercises were gradually conducted based on the health status of the older adults. All participants actively participated in the program with an average attendance of 90%. Consequently, the participants showed significant improvements in mobility and their memory recall ability at both 3 and 6 months. Additionally, the results of the Stroop test exhibited improvement 3 months after the commencement of the study program. Quality of life of the participants improved according to the mild cognitive impairment questionnaire, but it did not show significant improvement in health-related quality of life. Conclusion: The Tai Chi exercise program was a safe and, feasible program to improve the physical function, cognitive function, quality of life among the older adults in the community.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1127-1133
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• 2011

Exercise has been shown to positively influence quality of life for elderly men with a wide variety of medical illnesses. Tai chi exercise, a slow and graceful form of exercise and meditation, has especially been offered as the ideal exercise for elderly men with diverse conditions, such as people suffering from chronic heart failure or breast cancer survivors. In one recent study, Tai Chi was found to improve exercise capacity, sleep stability, and quality of life in heart failure patients including elderly men. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of 16 weeks of Tai Chi exercise (3 times/week, 60 min/trial, 40-50% HRR) on physical and physiological changes. Sixty four healthy volunteers without any particular disease between the ages of 65 and 79 years participated in the study. The results were as follows; Significant changes of cardiac endurance, strength, muscle endurance, flexibility and balance were observed following 16 weeks of Tai Chi exercise (p<0.05). In addition, significant changes of diastolic blood pressure, body fat and fat-free mass were observed following 16 weeks of Tai Chi exercise (p<0.05). These findings suggest that a brief period of Tai Chi exercise is beneficial, particularly to elderly men. It is especially beneficial for body composition, and physical fitness factors such as cardiopulmonary endurance, muscle endurance, flexibility, and balance. Further study is needed in this area for specific disease patients.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1575-1580
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• 2009

Tai Chi is a slow and gentle exercise which is suitable for obese women with chronic diseases. Tai Chi can improve the health of a senior without exacerbating existing impairments, including obese patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different types of Tai Chi exercise on blood variables (glucose, cholesterol, TG, HDL, LDL, cortisol) and physical fitness (muscle strength, flexibility, muscle endurance, agility, balance). Thirty obese women were recruited from a public health center. They were divided into Yang style (YS: n=15) and 12 (12KS: n=15). The Tai Chi exercise group participated in a training program for 12 weeks (3times/week). There was significant improvement in muscle strength, flexibility, and muscle endurance in both groups. Agility was significantly increased in YS, more than in 12KS. However, there was no improvement in balance in both groups. There was significant improvement in cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and cortisol in both groups. However there was no improvement in blood glucose levels in either group. From the results, there was no significant difference in either Tai Chi exercises. The Tai Chi exercise program was effective in improving cholesterol related variables and physical fitness, except balance, in both groups. Further study is needed in this area.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.631-636
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of Tai Chi exercises on the grip power, pain and fear of falling in elderly persons. A quasi-experimental design was used. This study included 37 subjects who were living in C city. The subjects were divided into the experiment group (n=18) trained in the Tai Chi technique for 6 weeks and the control group (n=19). The experimental group practiced the 24 posture simplified form of Tai Chi for 6 weeks (5 times per day for 60 minutes each time). The effect of the treatment was measured by determining the grip power, pain and fear of falling before and after the 6 weeks of intervention. The experimental group showed a significant increase in grip power (P<0.001) and decrease in pain (P<0.001) compared to the control group. The fear of falling in the experimental group decreased significantly (P<0.002). Tai Chi exercises may be an effective intervention to prevent falling. The Tai Chi technique would therefore be a good method of improving the pain and body health index in elderly persons.