• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine effect of Tai-Chi exercise program on joint flexibility for osteoarthritis patients. To evaluate the effects, quasi-experimental study was used for pre and post test with a nonequivalent control group. Method: Fifty-tow subjects participated in the experiment(twenty-seven for experimental group and twenty-five for control group) and they were from two different senior citizen centers in J city. The experiment period was from April 2002 through August 2002. The experiment group took part in Tai-Chi exercise program for eighteen weeks(three times a week for four weeks and five times a week for fourteen week). The exercise was performed for 50 minutes at every time (15 minutes for warm-up, 30 minutes for Tai-Chi exercise, and 5 minutes for ending). In order to pursue study purpose, the SPSS/WIN 8.0 program was chosen for the statistical analysis; ANCOVA was employed in examining test hypothesis; t-test and $x^2$-test were used to examine homogeneity between experimental and control group. Result: The study results were as follows :Score of vertebral joint flexibility increased significantly after of Tai-Chi exercise program. Score of wrist joint extension increased significantly after of Tai-Chi exercise program. Score of wrist joint flexion increased significantly after of Tai-Chi exercise program. Score of elbow joint extension increased significantly after of Tai-Chi exercise program. Score of elbow joint flexion increased significantly after of Tai-Chi exercise program. There was a slight increase of knee joint extension in the Tai-Chi exercise group compared to control group, but without statistical significance. Score of knee joint flexion increased significantly after of Tai-Chi exercise program. Score of ankle plantar flexion increased significantly after of Tai-Chi exercise program. Score of ankle dorsiflexion increased significantly after of Tai-Chi exercise program. Conclusion: As shown in the results, Tai-Chi exercise program can be effective nursing intervention for osteoarthritis patient to improve joint flexibility.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of Tai Chi exercise on pain, balance, gait and physical function of patients with low back pain. Method: This study was designed one group pretest-posttest design. Tai Chi exercise was conducted by researcher and carried out for sixty minutes per one time and two times a week for six weeks. The subjects of this study consisted of 23 low back patients. Using the SPSS win 10.0 program was used for data analysis, which included frequency, percentage and paired t-test. Result: Tai Chi exercise decreased pain, improved balance and gait, increased physical function(back muscle strength, leg muscle strength and flexibility). Conclusion: The results suggested Tai Chi exercise can be effective nursing intervention to improve pain, balance, gait and physical function of patients with low back pain.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.83-93
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of Tai Chi self-help program and Tai Chi exercise in patients with osteoarthritis. Methods: quasi experimental design was utilized for the study to compare the effects after implementing tai chi self-help program and Tai Chi exercise for 6 weeks. The subjects of the study was osteoarthritis patients who visited to two Public Health Centers in Gyunggi-do from August to December, 2005. Total of 25 OA patients agreed to participate in the study, and 10 tai chi self-help program group and 9 Tai Chi exercise group were included for the final analysis after 6 weeks. Tai Chi self-help program was provided twice a week, 2 hours per session (one hour for tai chi exercise, one hour for self help program) for 6 weeks, and Tai Chi exercise group was provided once a week, 2 hours per session for 6 weeks. Outcome measures include flexibility, 6 m walking, and balance. Mann-Whitney U test of SPSS WIN 11.0 was utilized to compare the group differences. Results: The subjects of both program participants were not improved in their arm flexibility, and the difference was not significant. Tai chi self-help group improved more in their 6 m walking ability than Tai Chi exercise group, but the difference was not significant (F=.000, p>.05). Tai chi self-help group improved more in their balance than Tai Chi exercise group, but the difference was not significant (Rt: U=.24, p>.05; Lt: F=2.60, p>.05). Conclusion: The provision of both Tai Chi self-help program and Tai Chi exercise can lead improvement of 6 m walking, and balance, but the group difference was not significant. A rigorous research design should be further utilized to identify the potential benefits for this population.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.119-131
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine effect of Tai-Chi exercise program on pain, flexibility, perceived health status and instrumental activities of daily living for osteoarthritis patients. To evaluate the effects, quasi-experimental study was used for pre and post test with a nonequivalent control group. Method: Fifty-two subjects participated in the experiment(twenty-seven for experimental group and twenty-five for control group) and they were from two different senior citizen centers in J city. The experiment period was from April 2002 through August 2002. The experiment group took part in Tai-Chi exercise program for eighteen weeks(three times a week for four weeks and five times a week for fourteen week). The exercise was performed for 50 minutes at every time (15 minutes for warm-up, 30 minutes for Tai-Chi exercise, and 5 minutes for ending). In order to pursue study purpose, the SPSS/WIN 8.0 program was chosen for the statistical analysis; ANCOVA was employed in examining test hypothesis; t-test and $X^{2}-test$ were used to examine homogeneity between experimental and control group. Result: The study results were as follows: Score of pain decreased significantly after of Tai-Chi exercise program. Score of flexibility increased significantly after of Tai-Chi exercise program. Score of perceived health status increased significantly after of Tai-Chi exercise program. Score of IADL increased significantly after of Tai-Chi exercise program. Conclusion: As shown in the results, Tai-Chi exercise program can be effective nursing intervention for osteoarthritis patient to improve pain, flexibility, perceived health status and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.20-30
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• 2006

Purpose: To determine the effect of Tai Chi exercise program on fatigue, stress, and quality of life in middle aged women. Method: The study was designed as a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study. Thirty subjects were assigned for experimental group and thirty four subjects were assigned for control group. The subjects in the experimental group were participated in Tai Chi exercise program for 60 minutes per session 3 times a week for 8weeks. Tai Chi exercise program consists of 10 minutes warm-up, 45 minutes main, and 5 minutes cooling down exercises. In order to evaluate the effect of Tai Chi exercise program, fatigue, stress, and qualify of life were assessed by measuring the condition of the participants in respect of fatigue, stress, and qualify of life with questionnaire. The data were analyzed by using $x^2-test$, Fisher's exact test, t-test by a SAS-pc+ 8.12 program. Result: After 8 weeks Tai Chi exercise program, there were significant improvement in fatigue, stress, and quality of life in middle aged women. Conclusion: Tai Chi exercise program can be an effective nursing intervention to improve fatigue, stress, and quality of life in middle aged women.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.249-256
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• 2007

Purpose. Tai Chi exercise, an ancient Chinese martial art, has drawn more and more attention for its health benefits. The purpose of the study was to identify the effects of a Sun-style Tai Chi exercise on arthritic symptoms (joint pain and stiffness), motivation for performing health behaviors, and the performance of health behaviors among older women with osteoarthritis. Methods. Total of 72 women with the mean age of 63 years old were recruited from outpatients clinic or public health centers according to the inclusion criteria and assigned randomly to either the Tai Chi exercise group or the control. A Sun-style Tai Chi exercise has been provided three times a week for the first two weeks, and then once a week for another 10 weeks. In 12 weeks of study period, 22 subjects in the Tai Chi exercise group and 21 subjects in the control group completed the posttest measure with the dropout rate of 41 %. Outcome variables included arthritic symptoms measured by K-WOMAC, motivation for health behavior, and health behaviors. Results. At the completion of the 12 week Tai Chi exercise, the Tai Chi group perceived significantly less joint pain (t = -2.19, P = 0.03) and stiffness (t = -2.24, P = 0.03), perceived more health benefits (t = 2.67, P = 0.01), and performed better health behaviors (t = 2.35, P = 0.02), specifically for diet behavior (t = 2.06, P = 0.04) and stress management (t = 2.97, P = 0.005). Conclusion. A Sun-style Tai Chi exercise was found as beneficial for women with osteoarthritis to reduce their perceived arthritic symptoms, improve their perception of health benefits to perform better health behaviors.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.571-580
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was to compare the effects among Tai-Chi exercise, aquatic Exercise, and a self-help program for knee osteoarthritis patients on symptoms of arthritis, muscle strength, balance, and difficulty of performing activities. Method: There were 50 final subjects50. A non-equivalent pretest-posttest design was used. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS for Window. One-way ANOVA and Scheffe's multiple comparison test were used 8weeks after each program. Result: There were significant differences in joint pain(p=.000), stillness (p=.001), knee extensor peak torque(p=.006), knee flexor(p=.002), and difficult of performing activity (p=.000), but there was no significant difference in balance(p=.648). The Tai-Chi group was significantly different from the self-help group for knee extensor peak torque, knee flexor and stiffness on Scheffe's multiple comparison tests. In addition, the Tai Chi group or aquatic group were significantly different from the self-help group for difficulty of performing activities(p<0.05). Conclusion: There are significant differences in the effects of the nursing intervention among the three groups. The Tai Chi group and aquatic group were significantly different from the self-help group. However, it seems that Tai-chi exercise may be more suitable than aquatic exercise in osteoarthritis exercise programs. Further studies with a longitudinal study are necessary to confirm the longer exercise period.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.147-157
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Tai Chi exercise program (Sun style 12 forms) on anxiety, powerlessness, self-esteem in community-dwelling elderly women. Methods: With a quasi-experimental design, a nonequivalent control group pretest-post test was used. Elderly women who agreed to participate in the study were assigned into an experimental group (n=23), or a control group (n=23). The experimental group participated in Tai Chi exercise program for 50 minutes per session, 2 times a week for 11 weeks. Tai Chi exercise program consisted of 10 minutes for warm-up, 35 minutes for main session, and 5 minutes for cooling down exercises. Anxiety, powerlessness, and self-esteem were measured with questionnaires to evaluate the effect of Tai Chi exercise program. The data were analyzed by using Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Mann-Whitney test by a SPSS WIN 12.0 program. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvement for self-esteem (z=-3.130, p=.002), powerlessness(z=-3.267, p=.001), and anxiety (z=-2.932, p=.003) when compared to control group, Conclusions: Tai chi exercise program may be an effective nursing intervention to improve self-esteem and to reduce powerlessness and anxiety in community-dwelling elderly women.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.543-548
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• 2009

Treatment for breast cancer produces side effects that diminish functional capacity and quality of life (QOL) among survivors. Tai Chi is a moderate form of exercise that may improve functional capacity, physical activity and oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of regular Tai Chi exercise on malondialdehyde (MDA), SOD and physical fitness (muscle strength, flexibility, flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction). Forty obese women were recruited from a public health center and divided into control (CON: n=20) and trained (EXP: n=20) groups. The Tai Chi exercise group participated in a 12-week (4 times/week) training program. Data were analyzed with T-test. MDA, SOD and physical fitness (muscle strength, flexibility, flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction) were evaluated before and after the Tai Chi program in both groups. There were significant improvements in shoulder flexibility, flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction. However, there was no improvement in muscle strength. There were also significant improvements in MDA and SOD. Based on these results, Tai Chi exercise has been shown to stimulate endogenous antioxidant enzymes and reduce oxidative damage markers. and also be effective in improving physical fitness and QOL. Further study is needed in this area.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Tai Chi exercise program on physical fitness, pain, and self-efficacy in patients with osteoarthritis. Method: A preexperimental research design was applied to 22 subjects who dwelled at a welfare institution in C-city and agreed to participate in this study. The Tai Chi exercise was conducted with a duration of 60 minutes per session twice a week for 9 weeks. Outcome measures were physical fitness($VO_{2}max$, strength, flexibility, foot power, agility, balance), pain, and self-efficacy. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and paired t-test. Result: After participating in the Tai Chi exercise program, the subjects showed significant improvements in strength, agility, balance, pain and self-efficacy. But there were no significant differences in $VO_{2}max$, flexibility and foot power. Conclusion: The results showed that Tai Chi exercise would partially improve physical fitness and be effective for pain reduction and self efficacy as well. Further studies are needed to confirm the effects of Tai Chi exercise on physical fitness.