The effects of tai chi exercise on elders with osteoarthritis: a longitudinal study

Effects of 12 weeks of Tai Chi on neuromuscular responses and postural control in elderly patients with sarcopenia: a randomized controlled trial

Objective

To explore the effect of 12 weeks of Tai Chi on neuromuscular responses and postural control in elderly patients with sarcopenia.

Methods

One hundred and twenty-four elderly patients with sarcopenia from ZheJiang Hospital and surrounding communities were selected, however, 64 were later disqualified. Sixty elderly patients with sarcopenia were randomly assigned to the Tai Chi group (n = 30) and the control group (n = 30). Both groups received 45-min health education sessions once every 2 weeks for 12 weeks, and the Tai Chi group engaged in 40-min simplified eight-style Tai Chi exercise sessions 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Two assessors who had received professional training and were unaware of the intervention allocation assessed the subjects within 3 days prior to the intervention and within 3 days after completion of the intervention. They chose the unstable platform provided by the dynamic stability test module in ProKin 254 to evaluate the patient's postural control ability. Meanwhile, surface EMG was utilized to assess the neuromuscular response during this period.

Results

After 12 weeks of intervention, the Tai Chi group showed a significant decrease in neuromuscular response times of the rectus femoris, semitendinosus, anterior tibialis, and gastrocnemius and overall stability index (OSI) compared to before the intervention (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in the control group for these indicators before and after intervention (p > 0.05). In addition, these indicators in the Tai Chi group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The changes in neuromuscular response times of the rectus femoris, semitendinosus, anterior tibialis, and gastrocnemius were positively correlated with the changes in OSI (p < 0.05) in the Tai Chi group, but there were no significant correlations between changes in neuromuscular response times of the aforementioned muscles and changes in OSI in the control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Twelve-weeks of Tai Chi exercise can improve the neuromuscular response of the lower extremities in elderly patients with sarcopenia, shorten their neuromuscular response time when balance is endangered, enhance their dynamic posture control ability, and ultimately reduce the risk of falls.

Monthly Disposable Income Is a Crucial Factor Affecting the Quality of Life in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) affects the quality of life (QOL) of elderly people; this study examines the demographic characteristics and QOL of patients with knee OA and identifies demographic characteristics that affect the QOL of these patients. In this cross-sectional study, 30 healthy controls and 60 patients with mild-to-moderate bilateral knee OA aged between 55 and 75 years were enrolled. All participants completed a questionnaire containing questions on 10 demographic characteristics and the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and their QOL scores in the eight dimensions of the SF-36 were evaluated. In the OA group, significant correlations were observed between monthly disposable income and physical and mental health components. Monthly disposable income was found to considerably affect the QOL of patients with bilateral knee OA (i.e., it is a crucial factor affecting these patients). The findings of this study may provide a reference for formulating preventive strategies for healthy individuals and for future confirmatory research.

The Application of Exercise Training for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the presence of symptoms and/or signs of peripheral nerve dysfunction in people with diabetes after the exclusion of other causes. It is associated with pain, paresthesia, sensory loss, muscle atrophy with fat infiltration, and muscular dysfunction typically starting distally in the feet and progressing proximally. Muscle deterioration within the leg and foot can lead to muscle dysfunction, reduced mobility, and increases the risk of disability, ulceration, and amputation. Exercise training is an established method for increasing the different components of physical fitness, including enhancing body composition and improving neuromuscular strength. A number of experimental studies have utilized exercise training to treat various impairments associated with DPN, such as nerve conduction velocity, pain tolerance, and balance. However, the broad spectrum of exercise training modalities implemented and differences in target outcome measurements have made it difficult to understand the efficacy of exercise training interventions or provide appropriate exercise prescription recommendations. Therefore, the aims of this review were to (1) briefly describe the pathophysiology of DPN and (2) discuss the effects of exercise training interventions on sensorimotor, metabolic, and physical functions in people with DPN.

Tai Chi and whole-body vibrating therapy in sarcopenic men in advanced old age: a clinical randomized controlled trial

This study was to investigate the effects of Tai Chi (TC) and whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise in sarcopenic men in advanced old age. Ninety sarcopenic men (mean age 88.6 years; age range 85-101 years) were divided into three groups: TC group, WBV group, and control (CON) group. Patients in the two treatment groups received 8 weeks of training in either TC or WBV, while the control group received reminders not to change their level of physical exercise or lifestyle. Patients in all groups also received health information related to sarcopenia. Muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance [balance, gait speed, timed-up-and-go test (TUGT), and five-times-sit-to-stand test (FTSST)] were analyzed and compared among the three groups. Finally, seventy-nine subjects completed the study (TC n = 24; WBV n = 28; and CON 27). Muscle strength was significantly increased in the TC and WBV groups compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Following 8 weeks of exercise, improvements were observed in all physical performance tests for the TC and WBV groups (P < 0.05). The improvement in balance was greater in the TC group than the WBV group. Time × Group effects revealed significant improvements in muscle strength in the lower extremities (P < 0.05) and physical performance (P < 0.01) in both the TC and WBV groups. Changes in muscle mass, as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, did not significantly differ between groups. These findings indicate that TC and WBV are effective treatments for improving muscle strength and physical performance in sarcopenic men in advanced old age.

Subjective perceived impact of Tai Chi training on physical and mental health among community older adults at risk for ischemic stroke: a qualitative study

Background

Evidence from quantitative studies suggest that Tai Chi produces a variety of health-related benefits, but few qualitative studies have investigated how older adults perceive the benefit of Tai Chi. The objective of the current study was to qualitatively evaluate the perceived benefits of Tai Chi practice among community older population.

Methods

This study was conducted with participants from a trial examining the effects of a 12-week Tai Chi training on ischemic stroke risk in community older adults (n = 170). A total of 20 participants were randomly selected from a convenience sample of participants who had completed 12-week Tai Chi training (n = 68) were interviewed regarding their perceived benefit on physical and mental health and whether Tai Chi exercise was suitable for the elderly.

Results

All participants agreed that Tai Chi training could relax their body and make them comfortable. Most of them thought Tai Chi training could promote physical health, including relieving pain, enhancing digestion, strengthening immunity, enhancing energy and improving sleep quality, enhancing their mental and emotional state (e.g. improving mood and reducing anxiety, improving concentration and promoting interpersonal relationship). Most of participants also agreed that Tai Chi exercise was appropriate for community older people. Three primary themes emerged from content analysis: Improving physical health; Enhancing mental and emotional state; Conforming with the request of the elderly.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that regular Tai Chi exercise may have positive benefits in terms of improved physical health and mental state among community elderly population, and may be useful and feasible body-mind exercise to community elderly population for its positive effects and advantages.

Trial registration

ChiCTR ChiCTR-TRC-13003601. Registered 23 July 2014.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1694-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Water-based Tai Chi: theoretical benefits in musculoskeletal diseases. Current evidence

Tai Chi is a low-impact and moderate intensity exercise that has shown positive effects in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Recently have been developed clinical studies on the benefits of Tai Chi techniques combined with hydrotherapy. Both types of treatment include physical training of balance, mobility, strength, coordination and sensory input that could complement each other. This report aims to present the current evidence about the benefits of the combination of water based Tai Chi in musculoskeletal diseases in order to establish whether the combined intervention is better than Tai Chi or hydrotherapy alone.

Effects of Tai Chi on balance and fall prevention in Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To examine the effects of Tai Chi on balance and functional mobility in people with Parkinson's disease, and determine whether fall incidence could be reduced by the Tai Chi exercise.

DESIGN

Single blinded randomized control trial with 6 months' follow-up.

SETTING

A hospital and general community.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients (n=76) diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, over 40 years old, able to walk independently and fell at least one time during the past 12 months.

INTERVENTIONS

The Tai Chi group (n=37) received 24-form Yang style Tai Chi exercise for 60 minutes each time, three times a week and lasted for 12 weeks. The control group (n=39) received no intervention.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III, Timed Up&Go (TUG) and occurrences of falls.

RESULTS

The Tai Chi group improved more than the control group on the BBS (p<0.05), but there was no difference on UPDRS III scores and Timed Up&Go (p>0.05). During the 6-month follow-up, only 8 (21.6%) out of 37 patients in the Tai Chi group had experience of falls comparing to 19 (48.7%) out of 39 patients in the control group (p<0.05). The average times of falls were 0.30±0.62 in the Tai Chi group compared with 0.64±0.74 in the control group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggested that Tai Chi exercise could improve the balance and decrease the fall risks in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Psychosocial effects of Tai Chi exercise on people with rheumatoid arthritis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To investigate the perceived psychosocial effects of participating in taught sessions of Tai Chi on people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

BACKGROUND

Tai Chi is thought to be psychologically as well as physically beneficial for people with arthritis.

DESIGN

This study adopted a qualitative approach to follow-up participants who had previously demonstrated physical and psychological benefits from a specifically modified Tai Chi programme in an attempt to explore perceived psychosocial improvements.

METHODS

Nineteen semi-structured, audio-taped, interviews were carried out with participants who had taken part in, twice weekly, group-based Tai Chi sessions for 12 weeks. Data from transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Analysis suggests that participating in shared Tai Chi sessions provides increased awareness of the links between mind and body; reduces anxiety and depression; and improves self-esteem, self-efficacy and motivation. It was particularly striking to find that the highly structured nature of Tai Chi was felt to improve memory and seemed to offer aesthetic experiences through developing graceful, 'fluid' moves rather than the 'jarring' movements often imposed by having RA. Such group sessions were found to provide social support and help improve participants' sense of perspective.

CONCLUSION

Although small scale, this study suggests that Tai Chi has the potential to offer psychosocial benefits for people with RA.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Offering Tai Chi alongside traditional treatments for RA could promote psychological health and well-being, help inform clinical decision-making and prove cost-effective.