Medical evidence is the best proof
of what really works. There have been many recent clinical
research studies that have examined the health benefits
of TAI CHI exercises.
While not all of the TAI CHI clinical research studies
have specifically evaluated Dr. Lam’s TAI CHI for Health program, Dr. Lam continues to lead the effort
to expand and improve clinical research
on TAI CHI for Health. We would like to provide you with
four clinical research
references:
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Summary
of the "Fall Prevention
Study in the Community" by Sydney Central Area Health
Promotion Unit Based on the Spring 2005 "Fall Prevention
Newsletter" by Sydney South West Area Health
Service.
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Fransen
M, Nairn L, Winstanley J, Lam P, Edmonds J : Physical
activity
for osteoarthritis
management: a randomized controlled
clinical trial evaluating hydrotherapy or TAI CHI
classes Arthritis & Rheumatism (Arthritis Care & Research)
April 2007, 57:3 pp 407-414.
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New England Journal of Medicine Feb 2002, the prevalence
of diabetes in the United States and the reduction in the
Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes with Lifestyle Intervention
or Metformin.
-
A Published
Study: TAI CHI for Arthritis By: Rhayun Song, Eun-Ok
Lee,Paul
Lam, Sang-Cheol Ba.
Published in the September
2003 issue of "The Journal of Rheumatology."
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CLINICAL
RESEARCH : SUMMARY OF THE “ FALL PREVENTION STUDY ”
BY DR . PAUL LAM
Summary of the "Fall
Prevention Study in the Community" by
Sydney Central Area
Health Promotion Unit Based on the Spring 2005 "Fall Prevention
Newsletter" by Sydney
South West Area Health Service.
This is the largest fall prevention study in the world
involving approximately 700 people. After
16 weeks of doing a TAI CHI program (80% of the participants
did the TAI CHI for Arthritis
program - added by Dr Lam), "The results showed that
TAI CHI significantly reduced the
number of falls by almost 35%.
TAI CHI also significantly reduced the risk of multiple
falls by approximately 70%." The study
concludes: "Compared with other falls prevention interventions
the trial showed that TAI CHI
is one of the most effective ways of preventing falls in
older people."
If you wish to find out more information please write to: Health
Promotion Service, Division of
Population Health. Level 9 (North) KGV Building, Missenden
Road, Camperdown NSW 2050
Australia.
NB: For the other published articles about how TAI CHI
for Arthritis prevents falls: "The
Effects of Sun-Style TAI CHI Exercise on Physical Fitness
and Fall Prevention in Fall-Prone
Adults"
Published in the journal of Advanced Nursing 51(2), 150-157
by Dr Choi J.H., Moon J.S. and
Song R. (2005)
Effects of TAI CHI exercise on pain, balance, muscle strength,
and physical functioning in older
women with osteoarthritis: A randomized clinical trial" Published
by the Journal of
Rheumatology Sept 2004.
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CLINICAL
RESEARCH
Physical
Activity for Osteoarthritis Management:
A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Evaluating Hydrotherapy
or TAI CHI Classes
MARLENE FRANSEN,1 LILLIAS NAIRN,1 JULIE WINSTANLEY,2 PAUL LAM,3
AND
JOHN EDMONDS,4
THE STUDY
Our study of 150 people with arthritis practicing TAI CHI for
Arthritis and using hydrotherapy
was published in the April 2007 issue of Arthritis Care and
Research. The concept for this
research study was started when Dr. Lam created the TAI CHI
for Arthritis program. It took
more than 6 years to find the funding, complete the study,
and then publish the results.
Objective. To determine whether TAI CHI or hydrotherapy classes
for individuals with chronic
symptomatic hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA) result in measurable
clinical benefits.
Methods. A randomized controlled trial was conducted
among 152 older persons with chronic
symptomatic hip or knee OA. Participants were randomly allocated
for 12 weeks to
hydrotherapy classes (n 55), TAI CHI classes (n 56), or a
waiting list control group (n 41).
Outcomes were assessed 12 and 24 weeks after randomization
and included pain and
physical function (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities
Osteoarthritis Index), general
health status (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 12 Health
Survey [SF-12], version 2),
psychological well-being, and physical performance (Up
and Go test, 50-foot walk time,
timed stair climb).
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RESULTS
At
12 weeks, compared with controls, participants allocated
to hydrotherapy classes
demonstrated mean improvements (95% confidence interval)
of 6.5 (0.4, 12.7) and 10.5 (3.6,
14.5) for pain and physical function scores (range 0 –100),
respectively, whereas participants
allocated to TAI CHI classes demonstrated improvements
of 5.2 (9.7 (2.8, 16.7), respectively.
Both class allocations achieved significant improvements
in the SF-12 physical component
summary score, but only allocation to hydrotherapy achieved
significant improvements in the
physical performance measures. All significant improvements
were sustained at 24 weeks. In
this almost exclusively white sample, class attendance
was higher for hydrotherapy, with
81% attending at least half of the available 24 classes,
compared with 61% for TAI CHI.
Conclusion:
Access to either hydrotherapy or TAI CHI classes can provide
large and sustained improvements
in physical function for many older, sedentary individuals
with chronic hip or knee OA.
KEY WORDS. Osteoarthritis; Hydrotherapy; TAI CHI; Exercise.
Arthritis & Rheumatism (Arthritis Care & Research)
Vol. 57, No. 3, April 15, 2007, pp 407–
414 DOI 10.1002/art.22621 © 2007, American College
of Rheumatology
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CLINICAL RESEARCH
In a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine
Feb 2002, the prevalence of
diabetes in the United States was estimated to be 6% of the
population or 91.8 million
people. The study estimated by 2025 10% of the US population
will have diabetes.
In this study, Reduction in the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes
with Lifestyle Intervention or
Metformin. 3,234 persons with glucose intolerance were randomly
assigned to:
- Placebo Group
- Metformin, as an intervention
- Life style changes, gentle
exercise and diet
Results: Compared with placebo
- Metformin - 31 percent improvement
- Life style intervention
- 58 percent improvement
Conclusion:
Gentle exercise and diet can prevent the complications
from diabetes by 60%
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CLINICAL
RESEARCH
A Published Study: TAI CHI for Arthritis
By: Rhayun Song, Eun-Ok Lee, Paul Lam, Sang-Cheol Ba
Published in the September 2003 issue of "The Journal of Rheumatology." (Abstract
available online)
Title:
Effects of TAI CHI exercise on pain, balance, muscle strength, and physical functioning
in older women with osteoarthritis:
A randomized clinical trial
Authors:
Rhayun Song, Eun-Ok Lee, Paul Lam, Sang-Cheol Bae
Objective:
Twelve forms of Sun-style TAI CHI exercise have been developed specifically to
reduce the pain and stiffness, and improve quality of life for people with arthritis.
This randomized study examined the changes in pain, stiffness and physical functions
(ability to do daily tasks) in older women with osteoarthritis (OA) at the completion
of a 12-week TAI CHI exercise program.
Methods:
72 patients with OA were randomly assigned into 2 groups. 22 experimental subjects
and 21 controls completed pre- and post-test measures over a 12-week interval.
Outcome measurements were physical symptoms and fitness, body mass index, cardiovascular
functioning, and perceived difficulties in physical functioning. The independent
t test was used to examine
group differences.
Results:
Compared to the control group the TAI CHI group had 35% less pain, 29% less stiffness,
29% more ability to perform daily tasks (like climbing stairs), as well as improved
abdominal muscles and better balance. No significant group differences were found
in flexibility and upperbody or knee muscle strength in the post-test scores.
Conclusion:
Older women with OA were able to safely perform the 12 forms of Sun-style TAI CHI exercise for 12 weeks, and this was effective in improving their symptoms,
balance, and physical functioning.
Author affiliations:
Rhayun Song, RN, PhD, Associate professor, Soonchunhyang University, South Korea
Eun-Ok Lee, RN, DNS, Professor, Seoul National University, South Korea Paul Lam,
MD, Family physician, TAI CHI teacher, and conjoint lecturer, University of NSW,
Australia
Sang-Cheol Bae, MD, PhD, MPH, Associate professor, The Hospital for Rheumatic
Disease,
Hanyang University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
Grant supporter:
Supported by the Korea Research Foundation (Grant no. 2000-042-F00100), Seoul,
Korea.
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