A Feasible Method to Enhance and Maintain the Health of Elderly Living in Long-Term Care Facilities through Long-Term, Simplified Tai Chi Exercises

• Published in: The Journal of Nursing Research Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 156 - 164
• Main Authors: 陳桂敏(Kuei-Min Chen), 李純華(Chun-Huw Li), 林忠尼(Jong-Ni Lin), 陳雯婷(Wen-Ting Chen), 林惠賢(Huey-Shyan Lin), 吳惠娟(Hui-Chuan Wu)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 台灣 台灣護理學會 01.06.2007; 臺灣護理學會; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc
• Subjects: Aged; Alternative therapy; Blood Pressure; Body Composition; Feasibility Studies; Group exercise; Health promotion; Health Status; Homes for the Aged; Humans; Long-Term Care; MEDLINE; Mental Health; Postural Balance; SCIE; Scopus; SSCI; Tai Chi; Tai Ji; Taiwan; TSCI; TSSCI; 健康促進; 另類療法; 團體運動; 太極拳; Taiwan; 太極拳; alternative therapy; 另類療法; 團體運動; 健康促進; Tai Chi; group exercise; health promotion
• ISSN: 1682-3141
• DOI: 10.1097/01.jnr.0000387610.78273.db

Practicing Tai Chi offers the potential to enhance the physical and mental health of older adults. Identifying a feasible way to encourage regular Tai Chi practice is essential if Tai Chi is to be promoted as a long-term, daily activity for elderly care facility residents. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness and feasibility of using an audiovisual, simplified Tai Chi exercise module to enhance and maintain the health of long-term care facility residents. A quasi-experimental, one-group, time-series design was used. Data were collected six times (twice before the intervention; four times after intervention started) at three-month intervals. Fifty-one elderly male subjects were recruited by convenience sampling. A 50-minute Simplified Tai-Chi Exercise Program (STEP) was implemented in two small groups three times a week for 12 months. During the first six-month period, participants received guidance from an actual instructor. During the second six-month period, guidance was delivered via a video tape and displayed on a television screen. Results indicated that participantsʼ physical health (cardio-respiratory function, lower body flexibility, and hand-gripping strength) and mental health (quality of sleep) had both improved significantly six months after intervention started, with improvements maintained throughout the end of the 12-month study (all p values < .05). Instructor-led STEP training followed by practice using appropriate audiovisual aids represents a feasible and effective method to implement a long-term activity program in long-term elderly care facilities.