• 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.17 no.1
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• pp.68-78
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the effects of Tai-Chi exercise and self-help management program applying laughter therapy in patients with osteoarthritis. Methods: This quasi-experimental study recruited a sample of 61 patients with osteoarthritis (experimental group: 30, control group: 31) through the community healthcare centers located in Seoul and Kyung Gi area. The primary outcome measures included symptoms of osteoarthritis, basic physical performance, fatigue, and depression assessed before and after the study. The data were analyzed using SPSSWIN V. 12.0. Results: At the end of the six-week intervention, left shoulder flexibility (t=2.011, p=.049), 6m walking speed (t=3.639, p=.001), and right balance (t=-2.30, p=.025) were significantly improved in the control group. Fatigue (t=3.012, p=.004), stiffness (t=2,093, p=.041), right shoulder flexibility (t=2.138, p=.037), right balance (t=-2.065, p=.043), and 6m walking speed (t=2.683, p=.009) were significantly improved in the experimental group. Conclusion: A twice a week, 6-week tai-chi exercise self-help management program applying laughter therapy is effective in decreasing fatigue and stiffness. Osteoarthritis is one of common chronic diseases that the patients should be required to continue self management for the rest of their life. Therefore, there is a need to develop the more effective self-help management program and nursing intervention to motivate them to maintain their own self-help management.

• 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.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.153-164
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Tai-Chi for patients with chronic arthritis. This study was performed from 15th Sep. to 7th Nov. 2003, 57 arthritis patients were participated in the Tai-Chi program. Outcome measures were pain, fatigue, flexibility and balance. Data were analysed by $X^{2}-test$ and t-test. There were statistically significant in fatigue, and knee flexibility, but no significant differences were found in pain and balance. In conclusion, Tai-Chi program was proved to be an effective nursing intervention to increase the fatigue and flexibility. And the 12 forms of Tai-Chi program has been found safely applicable to the patients with chronic arthritis for 8 weeks.

• 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.

• 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 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.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week Tai Chi on the bone mineral density and bone metabolic markers in postmenopausal women Methods: Data were collected from March to July, 2009. Fifty postmenopausal women were recruited for the study. Twenty two women were allocated to experimental group, and 28 to control group. The experimental group underwent Tai Chi exercise twice a week for twelve weeks. The control group was only notified with results of bone mineral density and bone metabolic markers. Bone mineral density was measured by using of DTX-200 (Osteometer MediTech, Hawthorne, CA, USA) at distal radius site and bone metabolic markers were measured by radioimmunoassay method. Collected data were analyzed by t-test, $X^2$-test, and Mann-Whitney test. Results: After 12 weeks of treatment, the Tai Chi group showed a significant difference in bone mineral density compared to control group but no significant effect on osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline level. Conclusion: Our results suggest that 12 weeks of Tai chi may delay bone loss in postmenopausal women.

• 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.