Asian Nursing Research
Volume 2, Issue 4 , Pages 235-241, December 2008

The Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on Elders with Osteoarthritis: A Longitudinal Study

  • Ching-Huey Chen

      Affiliations

    • Associate Professor, Department of Nursing & Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Miaofen Yen

      Affiliations

    • Associate Professor, Department of Nursing & Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Miaofen Yen, Department of Nursing & Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Rd., Tainan, Taiwan (701)
    • ,
  • Susan Fetzer

      Affiliations

    • Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, University of New Hampshire, New Hampshire, USA
    • ,
  • Li-Hua Lo

      Affiliations

    • Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Oriental Institute of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Paul Lam

      Affiliations

    • Lecturer of University of New South Wales and Family Physician, Sydney, Australia

Received 5 September 2008; received in revised form 12 September 2008; accepted 24 November 2008.

Article Outline

Purpose

Tai Chi exercise has been proven to be beneficial among elders with osteoarthritis (OA). The long-term effects of this exercise remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Tai Chi exercise for Arthritis (TCEA) program on the physical status and quality of life of OA elders.

Methods

This was a time series study with one group design. Subjects diagnosed with OA of the lower extremities, aged 60 years or over, were recruited from an outpatient clinic at a community teaching hospital. Thirteen participants joined a TCEA exercise class three times per week for 2 years. Physical status including body mass index (BMI), lean body mass, hand grasp strength, flexibility, and equilibrium were measured four times—at baseline, 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years of the TCEA exercise class. Quality of life was also measured at these time points.

Results

Lean body mass was significantly decreased within the study period (p < .05). Participants experienced significant improvements in physical functioning, role limitations, and social functioning on the dimensions of quality of life (SF-36) (p < .05).

Conclusion

Elderly people with OA should be encouraged to exercise using Tai Chi for maintaining physical function and improving quality of life.

Key Words:  osteoarthritis , quality of life , Tai Chi

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PII: S1976-1317(09)60005-0

doi:10.1016/S1976-1317(09)60005-0

Asian Nursing Research
Volume 2, Issue 4 , Pages 235-241, December 2008

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