• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.62-72
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• 2008

Purpose: There has been a need to integrating the self-help program for arthritis with the Tai Chi for arthritis(SHTCA). The purpose of this study was to develop and to examine the effect of SHTCA for arthritis applying the nine movement Tai Chi. Method: This study was designed the pre-post test, quasi-experimental design. A total 47 participants were recruited in W-city in Korea, an experimental group(26) and a control group(21) at pre-test, but after the eight weeks the composition of the groups were changed to 22 experimental group and 15 control group. The experimental group participated in the SHTCA once a week for eight weeks. SHTCA program consisted of understanding of the arthritis, contracting of the promise, exercise for muscle strength and joint flexibility and the nine movements of Tai Chi exercise. The measures used to examine the effect of the SHTCA were shoulder flexibility, back flexibility, grasping power, balance, abdominal obesity rates, perception of health status, and EQ-5D standardized five dimensions, mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Results: At The completion of the eight weeks of SHTCA applying the nine movement Tai Chi, the experimental group reported a significance in a number of variables compared to those of the control group: the right shoulder flexibility(p=.018), left shoulder flexibility(p=.031), right grasping power(p=.014), left grasping power(p=.024), the perception of health status(p=.005) and abdominal obesity rates(p=.027). Conclusion: This SHTCA applying the nine movement Tai Chi would be helpful on right shoulder flexibility, left shoulder flexibility, right grasping power, left grasping power, abdominal obesity rates and the perception of health status for arthritis patients.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.230-239
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether subjective symptoms, physical fitness, and emotional variables were improved after participating in a 6-week Tai Chi program in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: 23 rheumatoid arthritis patients participated in the Yang style Tai Chi for arthritis patients 90 minutes session conducted twice a week at the Arthritis Center of D University Hospital. The main outcome of current studies included self-reported scores of subjective symptoms(pain, sleep satisfaction, and fatigue), physical fitness tests, and depression (PHQ-9) and self-efficacy investigated with questionnaire before and after participating in Tai Chi. Results: After participating in Tai Chi, participants perceived lesser pain (t=2.61, p=.016) and fatigue (Z=-2.32, p=.020), and reported improved sleep satisfaction (t=-3.56, p=.002). In the physical fitness test, there were significant improvement in muscle strength (upper limb: t=-7.19, p<.001, lower limb: t=-4.86, p<.001), and balance (right t=-3.70, p=.001; left t=-2.30, p=.031). Depression (t=3.87, p=.001) and self-efficacy (Z=-3.44, p=.001) improved significantly after participating in Tai Chi. Conclusion: Tai Chi had beneficial effects on subjective symptoms and emotional variables as well as physical fitness. Therefore, the program could be recommended in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of 12 weeks of Tai Chi exercise on physical function, stress and depression in middle aged women with osteoarthritis. Method: The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Forty two participants were assigned to either the experimental group (21) or control group (21). Frequency, percentages, mean, standard deviations, $X^2$-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and repeated measured ANOVA with SPSS 12.0/PC program were used to analyzed the collected data. Results: For physical function the physical fitness of the experimental group improved significantly more than the control group: Leg strength, balance, flexibility and grip strength. Difficulty of performing activity had a tendency of decrease. Stress showed a tendency of as time passed but the decrease was not significant. Depression decreased and the change was significant. Conclusion: The Tai Chi exercise was effective in improving physical function and reducing the stress and depression of middle aged women with osteoarthritis. Therefore the Tai Chi exercise could be used as a nursing intervention for osteoarthritis in middle aged women.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a program of Tai Chi and auricular acupressure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The study design was a one-group pretest-posttest design. The subjects were 14 outpatients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis based on the American College of Rheumatology Standards. The setting was a Academic Section of Musculoskeletal Disease in the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine in United Kingdom. The program was Tai Chi exercise with auricular acupressure per two times a week, for twelve weeks. Results: A program of Tai Chi with auricular acupressure showed significant improvements in amount of pain of RADAI, 28 Joint count swollen, fatigue, physical, affect and symptom of AIMS2, function and symptom of ASES (p<0.05). However, no differences were found in the score of self-efficacy relate to the pain, and quality of healthy related life to social interaction. Conclusion: In order to improve the quality of healthy related life and self-efficacy relate to the pain, it requires long-term intervention. Also different research designs are needed to confirm the effect of this study.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of Tai Chi exercise, Tai Chi self help program, and self help management program on arthritic pain, stiffness, fatigue and difficulties in performing daily activities in patients with osteoarthritis. Method: The pre-post experimental design was utilized with convenient sampling at Public Health Centers. Total of 38 subjects agreed to participate in the study with the inclusion criteria of being diagnosed as osteoarthritis and no previous regular exercise. The 12 subjects were assigned to Tai Chi exercise group, 13 subjects to Tai Chi exercise combined with self help management program, and the other 13 to self help management program. Tai Chi exercise group performed exercise twice a week for one hour per each session. Tai Chi self help management group came to the class twice a week, one hour for Tai Chi exercise, and another hour for self help management program. The third group came to the class once a week for one hour to participate self help management program. At the completion of 6 week programs, 10 subjects from Tai Chi exercise, 9 from Tai Chi self help, another 10 from self help management groups completed the post-test measures. The data were analyzed by SPSSWIN 11.0. The homogeneity tests for three experimental groups were conducted by $X^2-test$, Fisher's exact test, Kruskal-Wallis test. The final analysis of the post-test measures was conducted by ANCOVA with fatigue, pain, stiffness, and difficulties in daily activities of the pretest measures as covariates. Results: The results were as follows. There were no significant differences in fatigue, pain, and difficulties of daily activities among three groups for the pretest measures. The score of arthritic stiffness was significantly different among groups after controlled for covariates, but the post-hoc tests showed no group differences. Conclusion: The nursing interventions applied for osteoarthritis patients have been previously tested to show the cost effectiveness of symptoms management of this population.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.137-146
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of Tai Chi exercise program on arthritic pain, difficulties in performing activities of daily living, and fear of falling in women with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Method: A quasi-experimental design with two intervention groups was used. According to the inclusion criteria, 35 women with OA and 22 with RA were recruited and participated in the Tai Chi for arthritis program for 12 weeks. In 12 weeks, 21 in the OA group and 15 in the RA group completed both pretest and posttest measures. Outcome variables consisted of pain, difficulties in performing activities of daily living, and fear of falling for both groups. Results: The women with OA (64 years) were significantly older and perceived better health than those with RA (49 years) with more than 6 years of diagnosis. The pain scores and the performance of activities of daily living were significantly improved in the OA group at the completion of 12 week Tai Chi exercise, but RA group decreased pain only. The improvements in pain and activities of daily living were significantly more in women with OA than those with RA. No significant changes were found in fear of falling for both groups. Conclusion: The 12 week Tai Chi exercise was more effective on pain and activities of daily living for women with OA than those with RA. Considering that the women with RA perceived more pain and had limited activities of daily living, Tai Chi exercise should be applied slowly and gradually for longer period of time than those with OA.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.132-142
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of Tai Chi exercise on Cardiorespiratory function and to identify directions for future research. Method: 19 articles from Medline search of english journals(1981-2004) and 2 from Korean nursing journals were surveyed. The contents analysis were focused on outcome measures and relative factors regarding cardiopulmonary function. Results: There are 21 articles including 8 articles with quasi experimental design, 7 articles with randomized controlled design and 6 articles with comparative non experimental research design. The major subjects of research were older adults, but hypertensive patients, cardiac rehabilitative patient, and osteoarthritic patient also included. The major style of Tai Chi was Yang style with 108-form. The duration of Tai Chi exercise was from 12weeks to 13.2 years in comparative non experimental studies, but 6 weeks to 16weeks in randomized controlled experimental studies. The most effective duration for cardiopulmonary function was over 16weeks. The variables for cardiopulmonary function were blood pressure, heart rate and cardiopulmonary function via $VO_2$ max(ml/kg/min). To reduce the blood pressure in the result was found in 2 articles, to reduce the heart beat was found in 1 article, to improve the cardiopulmonary function via $VO_2$ max in results were found in 7 articles(73%) among 11 articles. Conclusion: The Tai Chi exercise over 16weeks improves the cardiopulmonary function. It is suggested that to verify the effect of Tai Chi on cardiopulmonary function, the difference of gender, age, health status will be identified through repeated experiments.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was to examine the effects of 12-week Tai Chi exercise on the autonomic nervous system activity and risk factors of metabolic syndrome in patients with metabolic syndrome. Methods: A single group pre-posttest was used. Subjects were 16 participants aged 51~71 years with metabolic syndrome. All of the subjects were met the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III). The Tai Chi exercise consisted of 19 movements from Yang and Sun styles provided twice a week for 3 months. Metabolic syndrome risk factors including waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) were measured. A heart rate variability device was used to measure the activity of autonomic nervous system. Results: After 12-week Tai Chi exercise, systolic pressure, waist circumference, and HDL-cholesterol improved significantly. Tai Chi exercise had no effect on the autonomic nervous system activity. Conclusion: The 12-week Tai Chi exercise was partially effective in managing risk factors of metabolic syndrome. A larger study with longer period to improve the autonomic nervous system activity in patients with metabolic syndrome is needed.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of the Tai Chi self-help program with a self-help program on pain, stiffness, physical functioning, and fear of falling in women with osteoarthritis. Method: Total of 82 women with Osteoarthritis recruited from outpatient clinics or community health centers were randomly assigned either to a Tai Chi self-help group or a self-help group. Thirty subjects in the Tai Chi self-help group and 39 in the self-help group completed posttest measures(pain, stiffness, physical functioning, and fear of falling) at 6 months. Results: After the 6 month study period, the subjects in the Tai Chi self-help group reported significantly less difficulties in performing daily activities(mean difference=-0.16 vs. 6.19 for the self-help), and less fear of falling(mean difference=-3.20 vs. 0.27 for the self-help) than those in the self-help group. There were no significantly differences in pain and stiffness between the groups. Conclusion: The Tai Chi combined with self-help program was more effective than the self-help only program in reducing difficulties in performing daily activities and fear of falling in women with Osteoarthritis. Whether these changes prevent fall episodes requires further study.

• 대한근관절건강학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.167-172
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• 2001