Tai Chi for Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Diakonhjemmet Hospital

Status

Completed

Conditions

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Treatments

Other: Physical exercise

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00522054

587-03244

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study was to study the impact of Tai Chi group exercise on physical function, health and disease activity of patients with RA, and to examine the patients' experience and perception of Tai Chi.

Full description

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory and systemic disease that mainly affects the musculoskeletal system. The disease is often progressive and may result in reduced physical function, pain, fatigue, and joint destruction. Exercise programs are reported to improve physical functioning in patients with RA.

Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial art that was developed in the 13th century, and combines slow and gentle movements with mental focus.

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of a 12 weeks standardized Tai Chi group exercise program on disease activity, physical function and health status in patients with RA attending. Further, the patients experiences of possible effects of Tai Chi were to be obtained in a focus group interview.

Enrollment

15 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 70 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Diagnosis of RA according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987
Stable medical treatment
No earlier experience with Tai Chi

Exclusion criteria

Lack of ability to bear weight on the lower extremities
Recent or ongoing disease flare
Unstable heart condition
Participation in other physical exercise interventions more than twice a week included in other intervention studies.