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. 2013 Oct 31:2013:548240.
doi: 10.1155/2013/548240. eCollection 2013.

Therapeutic effects of tai chi in patients with Parkinson's disease

Hye-Jung Choi  1 , Carol Ewing Garber, Tae-Won Jun, Young-Soo Jin, Sun-Ju Chung, Hyun-Joo Kang
Affiliations

Therapeutic effects of tai chi in patients with Parkinson's disease

Hye-Jung Choi et al. ISRN Neurol. .

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week program of therapeutic Tai Chi on the motor function and physical function of idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients (PDs). Methods. The participants were 22 clinically stable PDs in Hoehn-Yahr stages 1-2 randomly assigned to a therapeutic Tai Chi group (TTC, N = 11) or a control group (CON, N = 9). Two subjects in control group did not complete the study for personal reasons. TTC was performed three days a week (60 min/session). Motor symptoms by the UPDRS were assessed, and tests of physical function were administered before and after the 12-week trial. Results. The TTC group, as compared to the CON group, showed changes in the mentation, behavior, mood, and motor scales of the UPDRS (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, resp.), with no significant main effects on the activities of daily living scale (ADL). However, there was a significant interaction between the time and intervention group on ADL (P < 0.05). There were no significant main effects for any of the physical function variables. There were significant interaction effects in balance and agility (P < 0.05, resp.). Conclusions. This study showed that TTC training had modest positive effects on the functional status of Parkinson's disease patients.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study flow diagram. Flow diagram of the progress through the phases of a parallel randomized trial of 2 groups of persons with Parkinson's disease who were randomly assigned to a 12-week intervention of therapeutic Tai Chi exercise training or a no exercise control condition.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Activities of daily living scores before and after a therapeutic Tai Chi intervention. Mean UPDRS activities of daily living scores before and after a 12-week therapeutic Tai Chi intervention or non-exercise condition in persons with Parkinson's disease. The results of the ANOVA showed a significant interaction effect (P = 0.037). Abbreviations: TTC, therapeutic Tai Chi.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Balance before and after a therapeutic Tai Chi intervention. Mean one-leg balance time (one-leg standing test) before and after a 12-week therapeutic Tai Chi intervention or non-exercise condition in persons with Parkinson's disease. The results of the ANOVA showed a significant interaction effect (P = 0.035). Abbreviations: TTC, therapeutic Tai Chi.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Reaction time before and after a therapeutic Tai Chi intervention. Mean reaction time (light stimulus test) before and after a 12-week therapeutic Tai Chi intervention or non-exercise condition in persons with Parkinson's disease. The results of the ANOVA showed a significant interaction effect (P = 0.035). Abbreviations: TTC, therapeutic Tai Chi.
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