EFFICIENCY OF TAI CHI FOR PATIENTS WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Objective. To compare the effects of group-based and individual-based Tai Chi training on nonmotor symptoms in patients with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease. Design. Randomized controlled pilot study. Methods. 36 community-dwelling patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) were randomly assigned to either group-based training group (n=19) or individual-based group (n=17). Both groups received same content of Tai Chi training 3 times a week for 13 weeks. Participants were also asked to perform home exercises daily. The Non-Motor Symptoms Scale was used to assess global nonmotor symptoms change. Sleep quality, depression, and cognition were evaluated by Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale, and Beijing version-Montreal Cognitive Assessment, respectively. Home exercise compliance was recorded. Results. There was no significant difference between two groups at baseline. After 13 weeks, there were no statistical significance between two groups. However, the within-group effect was different. Participants in group-based and individual-based groups showed a significant improvement on global nonmotor symptoms (P<0.001, P=0.004) and sleep (P<0.001, P<0.001). But only group-based training patients presented a significant improvement in cognitive impairment compared with baseline (P=0.002, P-0.116). For depression, no group gained a significant improvement(P=0.123, P=0.170). Group-based participants had a higher home-exercise compliance rate (HeCR) than individual-based participants did (P=0.019), and HeCR showed a moderate correlation with MoCA-BJ and NMSS scores changes in this study. Conclusion. Group-based Tai Chi training is considered to be a more effective and a more labor-saving method in the clinical settings, and patients tend to have a higher compliance rate in their home exercise program. This study is registered with ChiCTR-IPR-17010388.

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The effect of Tai Chi and Qigong on health-related quality of life in Parkinson’s disease

International Journal of Rehabilitation Research ◽

10.1097/mrr.0000000000000358 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

pp. 196-204 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Oznur Fidan ◽

Gulce Kallem Seyyar ◽

Bahar Aras ◽

Ertugrul Colak ◽

Ozgen Aras

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Tai Chi ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

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Tai Chi–Based Exercise for Older Adults with Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot-Program Evaluation

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.15.2.139 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 139-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Fuzhong Li ◽

Peter Harmer ◽

K. John Fisher ◽

Junheng Xu ◽

Kathleen Fitzgerald ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Tai Chi ◽

Exercise Adherence ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Preliminary Evaluation ◽

Exit Interviews

The primary objective of this study was to provide preliminary evaluation of the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a newly developed Tai Chi-based exercise program for older adults with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Using a one-group pretest-posttest design, 17 community-dwelling adults (mean age 71.51 years) with mild to moderate idiopathic PD (Stage I, II, or III on the Hoehn and Yahr scale) and stable medication use completed a 5-day, 90-min/day Tai Chi exercise-evaluation program. Outcome measures included face-to-face exit interviews on appropriateness and safety and physical performance (i.e., 50-ft speed walk, up-and-go, functional reach). At the end of this brief intervention, exercise adherence was 100% and the program was shown to be safe. Exit interviews indicated that the program was well received by all participants with respect to program appropriateness, participant satisfaction and enjoyment, and intentions to continue. Furthermore, a significant pretest-to-posttest change was observed at the end of the 5-day program in all three physical-performance measures (p< .05). The results of this pilot evaluation suggest that Tai Chi is an appropriate physical activity for older adults with PD and might also be useful as a therapeutic exercise modality for improving and maintaining physical function. These preliminary findings warrant further investigation.

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