Biomedical Research ; Humans ; Tai Ji

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Exercise is recommended for every patient with Parkinson's disease (PD). The effectiveness of two different forms of exercise for PD, Tai Chi and combined stretching-strengthening exercise, was compared. METHODS: Patients with mild-to-moderate PD were recruited to join either the combined stretching-strengthening exercise group (n=7), the Tai Chi group (n=9), or the control (nonintervention) group (n=7). Exercise was performed three times a week over a period of 8 weeks. The Tai Chi exercise was led by certified instructors based on a Tai-Chi-for-arthritis program. The combined stretching-strengthening exercise comprised folk dancing, stepping, and elastic-band exercises. The subjects' functional fitness, parkinsonian symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and depression were evaluated. RESULTS: Both exercise groups yielded better results in their overall functional fitness after the intervention. However, no improvement with exercise was found for parkinsonian symptoms, as evaluated using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. With respect to the domains of QoL, the combined stretching-strengthening exercise group fared better in the social domain of QoL, and the Tai Chi group fared better in the emotional domain, while QoL and depression worsened in the control group. The postintervention QoL was improved relative to the control condition only for the Tai Chi group. Although the exercise interventions did not have any effect on depression, the control group was associated with a significant deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise improved the functional fitness and QoL of PD patients, with Tai Chi yielding better results in QoL and favorable results in functional fitness. These findings suggest that Tai Chi could be a good exercise strategy for patients with PD.
Dancing ; Depression ; Exercise ; Humans ; Parkinson Disease* ; Quality of Life ; Tai Ji*

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine the effects of Tai Chi exercise program on BMI, positive and negative psychiatric symptoms in patient with schizophrenia. METHODS: The participants were patient with schizophrenia in S psychiatric hospital in D city. Twenty five patients were assigned to experimental group, and 26 patients were assigned to control group. Data were collected from May 9, to July 8, 2011. The Tai Chi exercise program was conducted with a duration of 60 minutes, 2 times a week for 8 weeks (a total 8 times). Measures were BMI, positive and negative psychiatric symptoms. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test and t-test with SPSS/WIN 19.0 version. RESULTS: The experimental group received Tai Chi exercise program had a significant changes in BMI, positive and negative psychiatric symptoms. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that Tai Chi exercise program is an effective intervention program to improve the BMI, positive and negative psychiatric symptoms of patients with schizophrenia.
Body Mass Index ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Schizophrenia ; Tai Ji

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of Tai Chi exercise (TCE) on depression, quality of life and self-efficacy in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHOD: A nonequivalent control-group pre and posttest 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 quality of life and self-efficacy. However there was no significant difference in the level of depression. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that TCE has positive effect on quality of life and self-efficacy in patients with PD. Research over an extended period with the TCE intervention is recommended to identify further effects.
Depression ; Humans ; Parkinson Disease ; Quality of Life ; Tai Ji ; Videotape Recording

With the increasing prominence of population aging, the cognitive decline of the elderly has gradually become a hotspot of clinical research. As a traditional rehabilitation exercise, Tai Chi has been proved to have a positive effect on improving cognitive function and delaying cognitive decline in the elderly. However, the related brain function mechanism is still unclear. In this paper, we collected studies which observed the changes of Tai Chi on brain regions related to cognitive function in the elderly using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). We summarized relevant studies from perspective of structural and functional changes in the brain. The results showed that Tai Chi may delay and improve cognitive decline in the elderly by reshaping the structure and function of brain regions related to cognitive function such as memory, attention and execution. The effect of Tai Chi for cognitive function may be associated with positive regulation of cardiovascular function, emotion and meditation level of the elderly. In addition, the improvement of cognitive function further enhances the balance of the elderly. We also found that practice time, frequency and intensity of Tai Chi could be factors influencing the improvement of cognitive function and brain function in the elderly.
Aged ; Attention ; Brain/physiology* ; Cognition ; Humans ; Neuroimaging ; Tai Ji/psychology*

OBJECTIVEIn recent years research investigating various health benefits of Taiji practice has markedly increased. Despite this growing scientific interest, essential questions such as to what extent a Taiji course may exert noticeable effects in participants' everyday life, what these effects are, and how and where potential transfer effects occur, have hardly been considered. The aim of our study was to explore transfer effects from a Taiji course into participants' daily lives.

METHODSWe conducted a longitudinal observational study in 45 healthy participants at the end of their three-month Taiji beginner course (tp1) and at two months (tp2) as well as one year after course completion (tp3). Participants were asked to report their Taiji practice behavior at all time points, as well as to rate and describe perceived transfer effects of Taiji course contents on their daily life at tp1 and tp3.

RESULTSTransfer effects were reported by 91.1% of all respondents after course completion (tp1) and persisted in 73.3% at the one-year follow-up assessment (tp3), counting "increase of self-efficacy", "improvement of stress management", and "increase of body awareness" as the most frequently mentioned effects. Transfer effects predominantly occurred in participants' work and social environments, as well as during everyday activities in public areas. While self-reliant Taiji practice frequency significantly decreased from 82.2% at tp1 to 55.6% at tp3 (P < 0.001), the magnitude of self-reported transfer effects did not (P = 0.35). As explorative analyses revealed, regular Taiji course attendance was highly correlated with stronger transfer effects at tp1 (r = 0.51; P < 0.001) and tp3 (r = 0.35; P = 0.020). Participants reporting high self-reliant Taiji practice frequency at tp2 were likely to maintain a regular practice routine at tp3 (r = 0.42; P < 0.004), whereas self-reliant practice frequency and transfer effects at tp1 were positively correlated with self-reliant practice frequency at tp3 on a trend level (r < 0.27; P > 0.08).

CONCLUSIONOur data underline the importance of regular course participation for pronounced and long lasting transfer effects into participants' everyday life. We discuss that several context and process-related aspects of a Taiji intervention are potentially relevant factors for enhancement of transfer effect.

Acupuncture ; education ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Los Angeles ; Tai Ji ; United States

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Tai Ji Quan (TJQ) training on strength and function of lower limbs in the aged.

METHODSSixty senile subjects were recruited and assigned to the TJQ group and the control group (imparting health knowledge)by random digit table. Patients in the TJQ group received 24-style TJQ training for 18 months (60 min each time, 5 times per week), while those in the control group were imparted with sarcopenia related causes, pathogeneses, prevention and control measures. The maximum isometric strength of bilateral iliopsoas, quadriceps femoris, tibialis anterior muscle, hamstrings; the time for 5 sitting-up tests and Time Up and Go Test (TUGT), one-leg standing time with closed eyes test; and the score of Berg balance scale were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment, muscle strength increased in the TJQ group with an average increased capacity (rate) as follows, bilateral iliopsoas 5.5 kg (16.9%), quadriceps femoris 5.5 kg (26.2%), and tibialis anterior muscle 8.5 kg (36.2%) (all P < 0.05). The time for TUGT and 5 sitting-up tests was shortened by 1.3 s (16.7%) and 0.9 s (14.5%) respectively in the TJQ group. The time for one-leg standing time with closed eyes test was increased by 8.4 s (left) and 9.1 s (right) respectively. The score of Berg balance scale increased by 4.3% (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, bilateral quadriceps femoris and tibialis anterior muscle strength increased significantly (P < 0.01); the time for TUGT and 5 sitting-up tests, the time for one-leg standing time with closed eyes test, scores of Berg balance scale were all improved in the TJQ group after intervention (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTJQ training could improve strength of iliopsoas, quadriceps femoris, tibialis anterior muscle in the aged, elevate their balance and locomotor activities, and possibly prevent and treat sarcopenia.

PURPOSE: This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of Tai chi exercise for improving balance and its tendency and helps to identify directions for future research. METHOD: 19 articles from Medline search of foreign journals(1981-2003) and 5 from Korean nursing journals (1981-2003) were surveyed. The contents analyses were focused on outcome measures and relative factors regarding balance. RESULT: Variable measures for balance were used in Tai Chi studies relating to balance. They included the functional measures such as 14 single-leg stance, 7 walking in physiological measures and 7 laboratory-based balance measures were done with platform stability test. The measure of effective Tai Chi exercise depended on the health status of subjects and the methods. Health status of subjects were only on physically inactive older adults in 17 articles and arthritis patients in 7 articles in the Tai Chi study. The significant effects of Tai Chi exercise on balance was revealed after 10weeks duration. CONCLUSION: Considering the results, Tai Chi exercise is more effective than any other studies for walking balance. But the reports on the outcome are inconsistent with wide variations in the choice of balance measures. It is suggested that future studies analyze systemic change through meta analysis and have a wide variety of subjects who need postural control and balance control. The methods of measures should be distinct from the balance state of subjects for the effectiveness of Tai chi exercise.
Adult ; Arthritis ; Humans ; Nursing ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Tai Ji* ; Walking

BACKGROUND: Accidental fall is a major risk factor of hip fractures in the aged. Recently Tai Chi exercise is reported to reduce the frequency of falls in the American elderly. This study was to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi exercise on equilibrium in the Korean elderly. METHODS: We selected 4 clubs for the elderly in the same district. The elderly(11 men, 9 women) who attended two of the clubs were offered Tai Chi(9 basic forms) exercise and the elderly(4 men, 21 women) who attended the other two of them were offered regular medical examination. Intervention length was 12 weeks, with outcomes measured before and after intervention. RESULTS: In men, single left leg standing with eyes open improved in Tai Chi group as compared with non Tai Chi group(p=0.026). In women, single right leg standing with eyes open improved in Tai Chi group as compared with non Tai Chi group(p=0.023), and single left leg standing with eyes open showed improvement in Tai Chi group as compared with non Tai Chi group(p=0.085). MMSE K showed improvement in Tai Chi group as compared with non Tai Chi group, but it was not significant(p>0.05). Those who said these 9 basic forms were not difficult were 81.8% in men, 77.8% in women. CONCLUSION: `9 basic forms of Tai Chi' is easy to practice and helpful for equilibrium in the aged. The effect of 9 basic forms of Tai Chi on cognition of the aged needs further studies.
Accidental Falls ; Aged ; Cognition ; Female ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Tai Ji