tai chai can reduce pain of OA

[Mary Z]

Effect Of Tai Chi Exercise On Self-efficacy, Pain, And Physical
Fitness In Women Patients With Osteoarthritis
Category: Nursing
Author(s): Young J. Park. Chosun Nursing College, Gwang Ju, Republic
of Korea
Presentation Number: 1129
Poster Board Number: 431
Purpose: To determine the effect of Tai Chi exercise program (Sun
style 12 forms) on self-efficacy, pain, and physical fitness in women
patients with osteoarthritis.

Method: Arthritis, one of the most prevalent chronic conditions, is
affecting almost 4.1% of Korean population and it has been shown high
prevalence compared to other disease. Therefore, demands for the
health care services such as new comprehensive nursing intervention
strategies are increasing to maintain individual's physical and
psychological health capacity.
The study was designed as a nonequivalent control group
pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study. The patients with
osteoarthritis who signed the consent form were conveniently assigned
into two groups (20 experimental subjects and 20 control subjects).
The subjects in the experimental group were participated in Tai Chi
exercise program for 50 minutes per session 3 times a week for
12weeks. Tai Chi exercise program consists of 5 minutes warm-up, 40
minutes main, and 5 minutes cooling down exercises. The degree of
self-efficacy, pain, and physical fitness were assessed by measuring
the condition of the patients in respect of self-efficacy, pain with
questionnaire, and physical fitness with measuring instruments
(Helmas, 2001, Korea). The data were analyzed by using chi2-test,
Fisher exact probability test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, Repeated
Measure ANOVA, LSD by a SAS-pc+8.01 program.

Result: Compared to the control group, the experimental group would
have higher self-efficacy scores (F=7.62, p= .009), less pain scores
(F= 7.88, p= .009), and better physical fitness scores (i.e. higher
balance scores (F=8.05, p= .008), higher grip strength scores (F=4.15,
p= .050), and higher back strength scores (F=7.40, p= .010)).

Conclusion: Tai Chi exercise program can be an effective nursing
intervention to improve self-efficacy, physical fitness (balance, grip
strength and back strength), and reduce pain in women patients with
osteoarthritis.

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