• 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 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 Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.341-351
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was done to analyze the effects of Tai Chi on fall-related risk factors through meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials published in English and Korean between 2000 and 2010. Methods: Using health related database and hand search of references and Google, 28 randomized studies were collected from doctoral dissertation and published peer reviewed articles. The Comprehensive Meta-analysis version 2.0 was used for the analysis. Results: The effect sizes for Tai Chi for 3 months were significant with ES=0.54 for static balance, ES=0.24 for dynamic balance, ES=0.69 for balance measured by scale, and ES=0.40 for flexibility, ES=0.48 for muscle strength, ES=0.71 for ADL, and ES=0.37 for fear of falling. Also, the effect sizes of Tai Chi for 6 months were significant for most fall-related variables. The 6 month data for flexibility was not analyzed since only one study was published. Conclusion: The analysis of studies of randomized clinical trials indicate that Tai Chi is effective in improving balance, flexibility, muscle strength, activities of daily living, and fear of falling when applied for 3 or 6 months. The findings provide the objective evidence to apply Tai Chi as a fall preventive intervention.

• 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 Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.829-837
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 6-week Tai Chi exercise program on reducing blood pressure for hypertensive patients. Method: A non-equivalent pretest-posttest experimental design was used. Participants were recruited from the Community Health Center in Busan, Korea. Twenty-eight hypertensive patients participated in this study. Among them, fourteen were in the experimental group and the rest are in the control group. Members in the experimental group participated in a 6- week program of Tai Chi exercise. In order to evaluate the effects of the Tai Chi program, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and cortisol level were measured before and after week 6. Result: After the 6-week Tai Chi program, there were significant differences in systolic pressure (t=-3.13, p=.004) and diastolic blood pressure (t=-4.75, p=.000) in the experimental group when compared to the control group. However there were no significant differences in the total cholesterol (t=1.07, p=.294) and cortisol level (F=1.35, p=.256). Conclusion: These results suggest that a 6-week Tai Chi program can be utilized as an effective nursing program to reduce blood pressure for hypertensive patients.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2018

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of Tai-chi in treatinglow back pain. Methods: We searched 9 electronic databases(Pubmed, CAJ, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, KISS, KISTI, NDSL, and RISS) till April 2018 and included randomized controlled trials(RCTs) that used Tai-chi for lower back pain treatment. The methodological quality of each RCT was assessed usingthe Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results: As per the inclusion criteria, 5 RCTswere found to be eligible for our review. These studies were divided into 4 groups and meta-analysis was performed. The meta-analysis of 1 study showed favorable results regardingthe use of Tai-chi. Twostudies showed favorable results regardingthe use of Tai-chi with Tuina rather than Tuina alone. All studies were observed to have a high risk of bias. Conclusions: There is limited evidence available to support the effectiveness of Tai-chi in relieving low back pain;hence, additionalwell-designed RCTs should be encouraged for better evidence.

• 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.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.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.38-47
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the effects of Tai Chi exercise on physical fitness and quality of life (QOL) in elderly women. Methods: This study was designed as a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. The subjects were elderly women over 60 years old who enrolled senior citizen centers and elderly welfare center. Thirty-three people were conveniently assigned to an experimental group (n=15) or a control group (n=18). The data were collected from September 2009 to May 2010. The experimental group was trained Tai Chi exercise for 8 weeks (one hour Tai Chi classes twice a week and once a week by themselves at home). Data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test, ${\chi}^2$-test and independent t-test. Results: The experimental group experienced significant improvements in flexibility. The experimental group experienced significant improvements in physical component summary (p=.017) and mental component summary (p=.027) of QOL. Conclusion: Tai Chi exercise can be used as a nursing intervention for improvement of physical fitness and QOL in elderly women.