• 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.14 no.2
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• pp.169-180
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was done to determine the effect of Tai-Chi Self-help program to progress of reduction of symptom, difficulty on activity by application Tai-Chi Self-help program for Fibromyalgia patients. Method: The study was used the method of one group pretest-posttest design. The subjects were 65 outpatients who were diagnosed as Fibromyalgia by ACR(1990) standard at K University Hospital, medical center. Tai-Chi self-help program was done for 8 weeks(three a week for 2 hours)through group meeting of 65 patients. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS for window12.0 program package. Results: The result of this study suggests that could increase in reduction of symptom and lower disturbance in ADL and life Satisfaction compared with the before Tai-Chi Self-help program education. Conclusion: Accoradingly Tai-Chi Self-help program could be used as a proper nursing strategy for Fibromyalgia patients.

• 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.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.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Tai-Chi self-help program for osteoarthritis patients. Method: This study was performed from 1th August. to 30th Dec. 2006. 27 osteoarthritis patients were participated in the Tai-Chi self-help program. Outcome measures were pain, flexibility and balance, self-efficacy. Data were analysed by SPSS WIN 12.0. Result: There were statistically significant in balance and knee flexibility. but no significant differences were found in pain and self-efficacy. Conclusion: In conclusion, Tai-Chi self-help program was proved to be an effective nursing intervention to increase the balance and flexibility. Also 12 forms of Tai-Chi self-help program has been found safely applicable to the patients with osteoarthritis for 8 weeks. A rigorous research design should be further considered to identify the long-term benefit for this population.

• 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.14 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the effects of Tai Chi self-help program on glucose control, cardiovascular risks, and quality of life in patients with type II diabetes. Method: The study subjects were 95 adults with type II diabetes recruited from five primary health centers and one outpatient clinic. The Tai chi self-help program was provided twice a week for 6 months. Outcome measures included blood glucose(HbA1c), cardiovascular risk checklist, and quality of life(SF36). Result: At the completion of 6-month program, HbA1c for Tai Chi group dropped from 6.79 to 6.59 without significant group differences. However, cardiovascular risk scores for Tai Chi group has been significantly reduced compared to the control group. In 6 months, quality of life (SF36) was significantly better for Tai Chi group especially in the areas of physical and social functioning. Conclusion: Tai Chi self-help program applied for type 2 diabetes patients has been partially effective to control cardiovascular risk factors, and some dimensions of quality of life. Tai Chi self-help program can be safely and easily applicable to primary care centers for diabetic patients and other people with chronic disease for their symptom management, and health promotion.

• 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.1
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• pp.71-83
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the effects of Tai Chi Self-help program for Hemophilic Arthritis Patients. Method: A quasi-experimental design was used. The subjects were 48 patients who underwent orthopedic surgery (24 experimental group, 24 control group). The subjects of experimental group were participated in the Tai Chi self-help group program in which 16 times for 8 weeks. The program consisted of health education on hemophilia, Tai Chi exercise, and workshop and its outcomes have been evaluated on WOMAC(Western Ontario and McMaster scale), mobility, pain, fatigue, muscle strength, depression, and quality of life(SF-36). The obtained data were analyzed by using the t-test or Fisher's exact test of PASW 18.0. Results: 1) The score of WOMAC, pain, fatigue, and depression decreased significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group. 2) The score of mobility, muscle strength, and quality of life increased significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group. Conclusion: Considering these research results, the program could be useful to improve joint movement, strength and psychological condition for patient with hemophilic arthritis, particularly in those who underwent orthopedic surgery.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a protocol of cryotherapy and Tai Chi on women with Fibrolmyalgia Syndrome. Methods: The study design was a pretest and posttest quasi-experimental, nonrandom assignment. The subjects were 48 outpatients with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia based on the American College of Rheumatology Standards. The setting was a University Medical Center in S city. The protocol was self administered ten times a week, for a two week period resulting in twenty treatments. Results: A protocol of cryotherapy and Tai Chi self-help program showed significant improvement in the fibromyalgia impact as measured by reports of physical impairment, feeing good, number of missed work days, ability to perform work, reports of pain, fatigue, rest, stiffness, anxiety and depression as reported by the comparison group (p<.001). No significant differences between the two regarding in reports of the tender points (p=.062). Conclusion: The results suggested that a protocol of cryotherapy and Tai Chi self-help program may be a promising multidisciplinary strategy for fibromyalgia patients.