• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of Tai Chi training program on physical fitness, stress response and ego-resiliency in nursing students. Methods: 28 nursing students of D metropolitan city participated in non-equivalent control group pre- and post-test group test in quasi experimental design with written consent. Fourteen participants in the control group who did usual activities and 14 experimental participants who promised to participate 24 Tai Chi training sessions for 12 weeks. Both groups completed pre- and post-test measurement for physical fitness, a questionnaire regarding their stress response and ego-resiliency. Each 60-minute Tai Chi session was consisted of 5-minute warm up, 10-minute meditation, 40-minute Tai Chi, and 5-minute finishing exercise. Results: After 12 weeks, participants in the Tai Chi group reported significantly higher score in muscle endurance (t=3.77, p=.001), leg muscular strength (t=2.14, p=.042), and balance (t=2.12, p=.044) compared to the control group. The Tai Chi group recorded significantly lower score than the control group on stress response (t=2.75, p=.011). Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of Tai Chi for a reduction in stress response and promotion in physical fitness in nursing students. Applying Tai Chi training to nursing program will help nursing students to have better academic performance.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.27-33
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of the center of pressure (COP) trajectory in healthy elderly subjects while crossing an obstacle before and after participation in Tai Chi training. Forty healthy elderly subjects participated either in a 12-week intervention of Tai Chi training or in a health education program. The participants were divided into two groups (the experimental group and the control group). Subsequently, the participants were pre- and post-tested on crossing over an obstacle from a quiet stance. Participants in the experimental group received Tai Chi training that emphasized the smooth integration of trunk rotation, a shift in weight bearing from bilateral to unilateral support and coordination and a gradual narrowing of the lower-extremity stance three times weekly. The participants in the control group attended a health education program one hour weekly and heard lectures about general information to promote health. Performance was assessed by recording the changes in the displacement of the COP in the anteroposterior (A-P) and mediolateral (M-L) directions using a force platform. Participants in the Tai Chi group significantly increased the A-P and M-L displacement of the COP after Tai Chi training (p<.05). No significant differences in the A-P and the M-L displacement of the COP between pre-testing and post-testing in the control group were found. This study has shown that participation in Tai Chi exercise increased the magnitude of the A-P and M-L displacement of the COP, thereby improving the ability of healthy elderly participation to generate momentum to initiate gait. These findings support the use of Tai Chi training as an effective fall-prevention program for the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 2010

Objectives : Tai Chi for arthritis was developed in 1997 by Paul Lam, M.D. of family medicine in Australia. It is an exercise treatment program and a good approaching method for arthritis. However its application is limited to arthritis of knee joint only. Even there have been no clinical study in korean traditional medical society. The aim of this study is to investigate effect of the Tai Chi for arthritis on chronic pain of body. Methods : We designed this trial as objectives were (1) senior female over 60 years, (2) suffering for osteoarthritis and chronic body pain, (3) have no physical or mental dysfunctions (4) able to walk and exercise alone. Objectives mactched these criteria had been trained the Tai Chi for arthritis 2 hours a day for 21 weeks. Before and after training, pain of 8 joints (neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, waist, hip, knee, ankle) were estimated with the VAS(Visual Analog Scale). Results : Training the Tai Chi for arthritis relieved multiple joint pain(especially neck, lower back, shoulder, wrist and knee) and these were statistically significant. Conclusions : This study is a pilot study to investigate effect of the Tai Chi for arthritis on chronic pain of whole body. Absence of control group, and other scale to test joint function except VAS were limitations of this study. It is the first clinical approach about Tai Chi in korean medicine field, also the first study of Tai Chi for pain of the whole body.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2009

Purpose: This randomized study was done to compare the effects of a 6 month Tai Chi exercise and a self-help program on balance, flexibility and muscle strength in women with osteoarthritis (OA). Method: In this experimental study, 82 women with OA recruited from outpatient clinics or community health centers were randomly assigned either to a Tai Chi group or a self-help group. Thirty women (mean age = 62 years) in the Tai Chi group and 39 (mean age = 59 years) in the self-help group completed posttest measures (balance, flexibility, oxygen consumption, abdominal muscle strength, back muscle strength, and grip strength) at 6 months. Results: After the 6 month, Tai Chi participants had significantly greater balance (mean difference = 2.9 vs. 0.9 for the self-help), grip strength (mean difference = 4.6 vs. 0.9 for the self-help), and back muscle strength (mean difference = 4.1 vs. -0.3 for the self-help). However, flexibility, oxygen consumption, and abdominal muscle strength were not significantly different between the groups. Conclusion: Tai Chi increased balance, grip strength and back muscle strength in older women with osteoarthritis compared to the self-help program. Whether these changes improve physical functioning and fall prevention requires 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.18 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 2011

Purpose: To examine the effects of Tai Chi exercise (TCE) on muscle strength, flexibility of low extremities, postural balance and cognition in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Method: A nonequivalent control-group pre and post-test design was used. Of the 30 participants 15 were assigned to the experimental group and 15 to the control group. The experimental group participated in 8 weeks of TCE which included one day of exercise with instructor on site and 3 days of self-exercise at home guided by a videotape. Results: The 8 weeks of TCE were found to be significantly effective in enhancing strength of low extremities, flexibility of ankles and shoulders, time of tandem stand with eye closed and level on the K-MMSE (Korean mini mental state examination). Conclusion: These results suggest that TCE has positive effects on physical fitness and cognition in patients with PD. Research over an extended period with the TCE intervention is recommended to identify further effects.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2007

Purpose: There has been a need to integrating the self-help program for arthritis with the TaiChi for arthritis patient. The purpose of this study was to develop and to examine the effect of the Self-help and Tai Chi for arthritis (SHTCA) program for arthritis. Method: This study was designed non equivalent control group pre-post test, quasi-experimental design. A total 40 participants were recruited in W-city, 29 participants(14-experimental group and 15-control group) completed post test. The experimental group participated in the SHTCA once a week for 8 weeks. SHTCA program was consisted of understanding of the arthritis, contracting of the promise, exercise for muscle strength and joint flexibility and 8 movements of Tai Chi exercise. Coloring plus program to cellular phone was used to encourage the exercise and participation by the KT-SHUT twice a week. Measures used to examine the effect of the SHTCA were EQ-5D standardized five dimensions(mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain & discomfort, and anxiety & depression), and health perception, joint flexibility, grasping power, and balance. Collected data was analyzed by SPSS WIN 14.0. Results: The experimental group had significantly increased the EQ-mobility(p=.033), health perception(p=.000), right shoulder flexibility(p=.007), and left shoulder flexibility(p=.002) compared to the control group. In addition, pain was decreased(p=.052) and right grip was increased(p=.052) after 8 weeks program in the experimental group. Conclusion: This SHTCA using coloring plus program was found partially effective and satisfactory. We recommended further research on the effect of this SHTCA effects.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.106-113
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the effects of Tai Chi on hope, dependency, and perceived health status of elderly women. Methods: The study was a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. Forty-seven elderly women were assigned to two groups: the experimental group (n=24) and the control group (n=23). Data were collected from June 13 to July 26, 2012 and analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 14.0 version program. The intervention was provided 2 times a week for 7 weeks. Results: There were significant differences in reported hope and perceived health status between the two groups. However, the issue of dependency was not significant. Conclusion: Tai chi can be utilized as an effective intervention for hope and perceived health status of elderly women. It will be a good solution to guide successful aging in an aging society.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.515-526
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• 2013

Purpose: The study aims to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi applied cardiac rehabilitation program(TCCRP) on cardiovascular risks, recurrence risk in ten years, and cardiac specific quality of life in individuals with coronary artery disease. Methods: The sample was comprised of individuals diagnosed with coronary artery disease within six months of the study who were referred by their primary physicians to participate in the TCCRP. The design was a pretest/posttest with non-equivalent groups with 30 in TCCRP program and 33 wait-listed comparison group. Results: The average age of all participants was sixty seven years. At the completion of the TCCRP, the Tai Chi group showed significant reduction in their ten year recurrent risk for coronary artery disease measured by Framingham's algorithm. The quality of life for the experimental group was reported as significantly higher than the comparison group, especially the area of general symptom. Conclusion: The outpatient cardiac rehabilitation with Tai Chi was applied effectively and safely without any complication to individuals with coronary artery disease. Tai Chi can be useful as an alternative exercise for cardiac rehabilitation program which may provide more access to individuals for cardiovascular risk management in the community settings.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.74-87
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• 2004

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the outcome of exercise programs for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients and its tendency with network analysis. Method: 30 articles from Medline search of foreign nursing journals(1966-2002) and 5 from three Korean nursing journals(1970-2002) were surveyed. The contents analyses were focused on outcome measures and network analysis of exercise programs. Results: Exercise programs result in improving muscle strength(91.7%), aerobic capacity(72.9%), and 50 feet walk time(57.3%). Among several exercises, water exercise, and Tai-chi are in the middle of weight-bearing exercises. In the experimental design, non-randomized control trials were 40%, and the functional status of subjects were not classified in 40% of the articles surveyed. Conclusion: Considering the results, muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and 50 feet walk time were tested as valid outcome measures. Tai-chi exercise could be recommended as proper exercise for Rheumatoid arthritis patients because of its low intensity of weight-bearing exercise. In terms of research methods, the randomized trials and functional classifications of rheumatoid arthritis should be done more strictly.