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Tai chi

A form of exercise of Asian tradition. Tai Chi - Taijiquan of the International Wushu Federation Taijiquan means supreme ultimate fist Tai means Supreme, Ji (Chi) means Ultimate, & Quan means Fist. Indications: 1) balance training in individuals at risk for falls - more effective than strength & balance training in reducing falls in the elderly [7] 2) improves quality of life but not cardiopulmonary fitness in elderly with chronic heart failure [2] 3) beneficial for falls prevention [3,5] & psychological health [3] 4) cognitive training (Tai-chi) improves iADL* in the elderly [4] - cognitively intensive Tai chi results in greater improvement of cognition measures than standard Tai chi or stretching in elderly with mild cognitive impairment [10] 5) may benefit patients with fibromyalgia [6] 6) improves quality of sleep * instrumental activities of daily living Contraindications: 1) exercise for prevention of osteoporosis 2) no benefit for chronic illness including: a) cancer b) Parkinson disease c) rheumatoid arthritis d) cardiovascular disease [3] Notes: - NOT a form of aerobic exercise, but may share benefits including weight reduction, reduced waist circumference & improved lipid panels [9]

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exercise

References

  1. Geriatrics Review Syllabus, American Geriatrics Society, 5th edition, 2002-2004
  2. Yeh GY et al. Tai chi exercise in patients with chronic heart failure: A randomized clinical trial. Arch Intern Med 2011 Apr 25; 171:750. PMID: 21518942
  3. Lee MS and Ernst E. Systematic reviews of t'ai chi: An overview. Br J Sports Med 2011 May 16; PMID: 21586406 http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2011/05/02/bjsm.2010.080622 - Yeh GY, Wang C, Wayne PM, Phillips R. Tai chi exercise for patients with cardiovascular conditions and risk factors: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2009 May-Jun;29(3):152-60. Review. PMID: 19471133
  4. Rebok GW et al Ten-Year Effects of the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly Cognitive Training Trial on Cognition and Everyday Functioning in Older Adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Jan 13, 2014 PMID: 24417410 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.12607/abstract - Wayne PM et al. Effect of tai chi on cognitive performance in older adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Geriatr Soc 2014 Jan; 62:25 PMID: 24383523 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.12611/abstract
  5. Lomas-Vega R, Obrero-Gaitan E, Molina-Ortega FJ, Del-Pino-Casado R. Tai Chi for Risk of Falls. A Meta-analysis. J Am Ger Soc. July 24, 2017 PMID: 28736853 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.15008/abstract
  6. Wang C, Schmid CH, Fielding RA, et al Effect of tai chi versus aerobic exercise for fibromyalgia: comparative effectiveness randomized controlled trial. BMJ 2018;360:k851 PMID: 29563100 http://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k851 - Price A The unintended consequences of tai chi for fibromyalgia. The bmj opinion. March 21, 2018 http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2018/03/21/amy-price-the-unintended-consequences-of-tai-chi-for-fibromyalgia/ - Wang C Time to rethink exercise for fibromyalgia care. The bmj opinion. March 21, 2018 http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2018/03/21/chenchen-wang-time-to-rethink-exercise-for-fibromyalgia-care/
  7. Li F, Harmer P, Fitzgerald K et al. Effectiveness of a therapeutic tai ji quan intervention vs a multimodal exercise intervention to prevent falls among older adults at high risk of falling: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med 2018 Sep 10; PMID: 30208396 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2701631
  8. Siu PM, Yu AP, Tam BT et al. Effects of tai chi or exercise on sleep in older adults with insomnia: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open 2021 Feb 1; 4:e2037199. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2776441 PMID: 33587135 Free article
  9. Siu PM, Yu AP, Chin EC et al. Effects of tai chi or conventional exercise on central obesity in middle-aged and older adults: A three-group randomized controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 2021 Jun 1; [e-pub]. PMID: 34058100 https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-7014
  10. Li F, Harmer P, Eckstrom E et al Clinical Effectiveness of Cognitively Enhanced Tai Ji Quan Training on Global Cognition and Dual-Task Performance During Walking in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Self-Reported Memory Concerns. A Randomized Controlled Trial. Ann Intern Med. 2023. Oct 31. 37903365 https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M23-1603