A comparison of two Tai Chi interventions tailored for different health outcomes

• Main Authors: Yin Wu, Cindy Senk, Patrick Coll, Susan Glenney, Ken Zaborowski, Richard Fortinsky, Beth Taylor, Crystal Park, Kirsten Benson, Matt McGowan, Slyvia DiBiasi, Ming-Hui Chen, Linda Pescatello
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-06-01
• Series: Complementary Therapies in Medicine
• Subjects: Balance; Blood pressure; Complimentary medicine; Older adults
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229921000728

Objectives: We compared the health benefits of two different Tai Chi interventions tailored for improving blood pressure (BP) (PRESSURE) or balance (BALANCE). Design: randomized controlled trial. Setting: Community dwelling older adults (≥60yr) practiced Tai Chi at the fitness center of a continuous care community. Interventions: We tailored PRESSURE to emphasize breathing techniques and mental relaxation and BALANCE to emphasize movement principles that challenged balance. Subjects were randomized to PRESSURE (n = 12), BALANCE (n = 13), or CONTROL (n = 10). Tai Chi was practiced 3 sessions/wk, 60 min/session for 12 wk. CONTROL performed normal daily activities. Main outcome measures: We compared the change in cardiometabolic health, balance, and functional fitness between groups with ANCOVA using baseline values, age, and body mass index as covariates. Results: Subjects were physically active, Tai Chi naive (97.1 %), white, mostly female (82.9 %), and older (78.9 ± 5.7 yr) with resting systolic BP (SBP) of 126.5 ± 14.4 mmHg and diastolic BP of 69.3 ± 8.4 mmHg. PRESSURE significantly improved Chair Sit-to-Stand Test (CSTS) (1.0 ± 1.8 vs.−0.6 ± 0.8times/30s,p = 0.03) versus CONTROL, and gait speed (12.8±43.3 vs.−24.1±22.4cm/sec, p = 0.02) versus BALANCE. Meanwhile, BALANCE significantly improved Single Leg Stance Test (5.4±18.0 vs.−8.2±10.3 s, p = 0.049) and CSTS (1.0±1.7 vs.−0.6±0.8times/30s, p = 0.03), and tended to lower SBP (-4.2±16.0 vs. 3.5±8.3mmHg, p = 0.052) versus CONTROL. Conclusion: Within 3 months, Tai Chi improved several health outcomes independent of the type of practice among physically active, Tai Chi naive older adults. Therefore, healthcare and exercise professionals may recommend Tai Chi to physically active older adults without specifying the type of practice.