• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.620-628
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The purpose was to identify the effects of a Tai Chi exercise program on physical fitness, fall related perception and health status among institutionalized elderly. Methods: A quasi-experimental research was carried out with a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. There were 23 subjects in the experimental group and 24 in the control group. The data was gathered by structured questionnaires about fall related perception, and health status. Physical fitness was measured by an exercise therapist with a blind principle. Results: At the completion of the 12 weeks Tai Chi exercise program, flexibility (F=4.50, p=.00), and ability to balance (F=3.27, p=.00) had increased significantly. Fall related perception showed significant improvement in the fear of falling (F=-3.52, p=.00). Physical functioning (F=3.38, p=.00), role limitation-physical (F=2.67, p=.01), role limitation-emotional (F=2.47, p=.02). and general health (F=3.88, p=.00) in health status showed significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: The study findings revealed Tai Chi exercise as a useful nursing intervention for elderly that enhances flexibility and balance, decreases fall related perception and also increases the health status. Further research is warranted to compare the potential effects of Tai Chi exercise and its health benefits from other types of exercise or martial arts.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.153-164
• /
• 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
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.69-80
• /
• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of Tai Chi on the muscle strength and flexibility. Method: 10 articles from Medline search of foreign journals(1981-2003) and 4 from Korean nursing journals (1981-2003) were surveyed. The research are analyzed according to research design, subjects, and dependent variables. Results: Research on Tai Chi Exercise increased rapidly in the 1990's. The experimental research design was more reported than the comparative design. The experimental design included; 21.4% one group pre-posttest design, 35.7% quasi-experimental design and 28.6% randomized design. Out of the subjects; 64.4% of papers were healthy older people, and 35.6% of papers were patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Style of Tai Chi was mostly used Yang or Sun form. Muscle strength was usually measured at lower extremity or grip strength. Classical Yang style or Long form was more effective to improve muscle strength. 75% of papers were significantly improvement in grip strength and 71.4% of papers in flexibility. Conclusion: To properly study the positive effects of Tai Chi exercise, it is suggested that meta analysis needs to be done to integrate the various results.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.42-51
• /
• 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 muscle and joint health
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.61-69
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the Tai Chi exercise program (Sun style 31 forms) on fatigue, anxiety, and sleep patterns in nursing students. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Nursing students who participated in this study were assigned to an experimental group (n=24), and a control group (n=26). The experimental group participated in Tai Chi exercise program for 60 minutes per session, and 3 times a week for 7 weeks. The Tai Chi exercise program consisted of 10 minutes for warm-up, 45 minutes for main session, and 5 minutes for cooling down exercises. The data were collected prior and after the intervention using self-administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test, Fisher's exact probability, t -test, and the general linear model. Results: After the application of the program, the experimental group showed a significant difference in fatigue (F=20.62, p<.001), anxiety (F=16.96, p<.001), and sleep pattern (F=15.70, p<.001) scores. Conclusion: These findings show that the Tai Chi exercise program can be an effective nursing intervention to improve sleep pattern and to reduce fatigue and anxiety in nursing students.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.116-124
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a Tai Chi exercise program on physical function and physiological variables in patients with degenerative arthritis. Methods: The study utilized a nonequivalent control group with pretest-posttest design. Data collection was done with the elders from two welfare institutions in C-city between July I and September 22, 2007. The participants were assigned either to an experimental group (n=24) or to a control group (n=22). The experimental group participated in Tai Chi exercise for 60 minutes per session, twice a week for 12 weeks and the control group received the education about arthritis for 3 weeks. Results: Except for $VO_2max$, weight, and body fat rate, the elders in the experimental group showed significant improvement in physical function (grip strength, flexibility, balance), and physiological variables (BP) compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results suggest that Tai Chi exercise would partially improve physical function, and physiological variables. Further studies are needed to determine the effects on physical fitness and physiological variables after Tai Chi exercise in this population.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.73-82
• /
• 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 muscle and joint health
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.137-146
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of Tai Chi exercise program on arthritic pain, difficulties in performing activities of daily living, and fear of falling in women with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Method: A quasi-experimental design with two intervention groups was used. According to the inclusion criteria, 35 women with OA and 22 with RA were recruited and participated in the Tai Chi for arthritis program for 12 weeks. In 12 weeks, 21 in the OA group and 15 in the RA group completed both pretest and posttest measures. Outcome variables consisted of pain, difficulties in performing activities of daily living, and fear of falling for both groups. Results: The women with OA (64 years) were significantly older and perceived better health than those with RA (49 years) with more than 6 years of diagnosis. The pain scores and the performance of activities of daily living were significantly improved in the OA group at the completion of 12 week Tai Chi exercise, but RA group decreased pain only. The improvements in pain and activities of daily living were significantly more in women with OA than those with RA. No significant changes were found in fear of falling for both groups. Conclusion: The 12 week Tai Chi exercise was more effective on pain and activities of daily living for women with OA than those with RA. Considering that the women with RA perceived more pain and had limited activities of daily living, Tai Chi exercise should be applied slowly and gradually for longer period of time than those with OA.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.132-142
• /
• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of Tai Chi exercise on Cardiorespiratory function and to identify directions for future research. Method: 19 articles from Medline search of english journals(1981-2004) and 2 from Korean nursing journals were surveyed. The contents analysis were focused on outcome measures and relative factors regarding cardiopulmonary function. Results: There are 21 articles including 8 articles with quasi experimental design, 7 articles with randomized controlled design and 6 articles with comparative non experimental research design. The major subjects of research were older adults, but hypertensive patients, cardiac rehabilitative patient, and osteoarthritic patient also included. The major style of Tai Chi was Yang style with 108-form. The duration of Tai Chi exercise was from 12weeks to 13.2 years in comparative non experimental studies, but 6 weeks to 16weeks in randomized controlled experimental studies. The most effective duration for cardiopulmonary function was over 16weeks. The variables for cardiopulmonary function were blood pressure, heart rate and cardiopulmonary function via $VO_2$ max(ml/kg/min). To reduce the blood pressure in the result was found in 2 articles, to reduce the heart beat was found in 1 article, to improve the cardiopulmonary function via $VO_2$ max in results were found in 7 articles(73%) among 11 articles. Conclusion: The Tai Chi exercise over 16weeks improves the cardiopulmonary function. It is suggested that to verify the effect of Tai Chi on cardiopulmonary function, the difference of gender, age, health status will be identified through repeated experiments.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This study was to examine the effects of 12-week Tai Chi exercise on the autonomic nervous system activity and risk factors of metabolic syndrome in patients with metabolic syndrome. Methods: A single group pre-posttest was used. Subjects were 16 participants aged 51~71 years with metabolic syndrome. All of the subjects were met the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III). The Tai Chi exercise consisted of 19 movements from Yang and Sun styles provided twice a week for 3 months. Metabolic syndrome risk factors including waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) were measured. A heart rate variability device was used to measure the activity of autonomic nervous system. Results: After 12-week Tai Chi exercise, systolic pressure, waist circumference, and HDL-cholesterol improved significantly. Tai Chi exercise had no effect on the autonomic nervous system activity. Conclusion: The 12-week Tai Chi exercise was partially effective in managing risk factors of metabolic syndrome. A larger study with longer period to improve the autonomic nervous system activity in patients with metabolic syndrome is needed.