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Tai Chi and Perceived Health Status in Older Adults Who Are Transitionally Frail: A Randomized Controlled Trial

AI Greenspan, PT, MPH, DrPH, is Senior Scientist, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Mailstop K-63, Atlanta, GA 30341 (USA).
SL Wolf, PT, PhD, FAPTA, is Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga.
ME Kelley, PhD, is Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.
M O'Grady, MD, is currently in private practice. Dr O'Grady was Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, at the time of the study.

AGreenspan{at}cdc.gov

Background and Purpose: Tai chi, a Chinese exercise derived from martial arts, while gaining popularity as an intervention for reducing falls in older adults, also may improve health status. The purpose of this study was to determine whether intense tai chi (TC) exercise could improve perceived health status and self-rated health (SRH) more than wellness education (WE) for older adults who are transitionally frail.

Subjects: Study subjects were 269 women who were 70 years of age and who were recruited from 20 congregate independent senior living facilities.

Methods: Participants took part in a 48-week, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. They were randomly assigned to receive either TC or WE interventions. Participants were interviewed before randomization and at 1 year regarding their perceived health status and SRH. Perceived health status was measured with the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP).

Results: Compared with WE participants, TC participants reported significant improvements in the physical dimension and ambulation categories and borderline significant improvements in the body care and movement category of the SIP. Self-rated health did not change for either group.

Discussion and Conclusion: These findings suggest that older women who are transitionally frail and participate in intensive TC exercise demonstrate perceived health status benefits, most notably in ambulation.

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