Teaching Tai Chi to elders with osteoarthritis pain and mild cognitive impairment

Authors

  • Jason Y. Chang, PhD
  • Pao-Feng Tsai, RN, PhD
  • Sheery Woods
  • Cornelia Beck, RN, PhD
  • Paula K. Roberson, PhD
  • Karl Rosengren, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2011.0002

Keywords:

cognitive impairment, osteoarthritis, Tai Chi, teaching strategy

Abstract

This article describes the authors’ experience and strategies in teaching Tai Chi, a gentle exercise derived from an ancient Chinese martial art, to mildly cognitively impaired elders to relieve osteoarthritic knee pain. The 12-form Sun-style Tai Chi, a set of Tai Chi forms endorsed by the American Arthritis Foundation, was used in the program. Teaching Tai Chi to elders with mild cognitive impairment requires particular strategies tailored to their physical and cognitive frailty. When effectively taught, Tai Chi can be a unique and cost-effective intervention for elders with knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.

Author Biographies

Jason Y. Chang, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Pao-Feng Tsai, RN, PhD

Associate Professor, College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Sheery Woods

Assistant Community Fitness Program Coordinator, University Rehab Therapy and Fitness Center, Reynolds Institute on Aging, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Cornelia Beck, RN, PhD

Professor, Department of Geriatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Paula K. Roberson, PhD

Professor and Chair, Department of Biostatistics, Colleges of Medicine and Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Karl Rosengren, PhD

Professor, Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.

References

Qin L, Choy W, Leung K, et al.: Beneficial effects of regular Tai Chi exercise on musculoskeletal system. J Bone Miner Metab. 2005; 23(2): 186-190.

Cheing GL, Hui-Chan CW, Chan KM: Does four weeks of TENS and/or isometric exercise produce cumulative reduction of osteoarthritic knee pain? Clin Rehabil. 2002; 16(7): 749-760.

Fisher NM, Pendergast DR, Gresham GE, et al.: Muscle rehabilitation: Its effect on muscular and functional performance of patients with knee osteoarthritis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1991; 72(6): 367-374.

Song R, Lee EO, Lam P, et al.: Effects of Tai Chi exercise on pain, balance, muscle strength, and perceived difficulties in physical functioning in older women with osteoarthritis: A randomized clinical trial. J Rheumatol. 2003; 30(9): 2039-2044.

Choi JH, Moon JS, Song R: Effects of Sun-style Tai Chi exercise on physical fitness and fall prevention in fall-prone older adults. J Adv Nurs. 2005; 51(2): 150-157.

Campbell AJ, Busby WJ, Robertson MC, et al.: Disease, impairment, disability and social handicap: A community based study of people aged 70 years and over. Disabil Rehabil. 1994; 16(2): 72-79.

Steultjens MP, Dekker J, Bijlsma JW: Avoidance of activity and disability in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: The mediating role of muscle strength. Arthritis Rheum. 2002; 46(7): 1784-1788.

Pfeffer RI, Afifi AA, Chance JM: Prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in a retirement community. Am J Epidemiol. 1987; 125(3): 420-436.

Hebert LE, Scherr PA, Bienias JL, et al.: State-specific projections through 2025 of Alzheimer disease prevalence. Neurology. 2004; 62(9): 1645.

Phillips EM, Schneider JC, Mercer GR: Motivating elders to initiate and maintain exercise. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004; 85(7, Suppl 3): S52-S57; quiz S58-S59.

Conn VS: Older adults and exercise: Path analysis of selfefficacy related constructs. Nurs Res. 1998; 47(3): 180-189.

O’Reilly SC, Muir KR, Doherty M: Effectiveness of home exercise on pain and disability from osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomised controlled trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 1999; 58(1): 15-19.

Thomas KS, Muir KR, Doherty M, et al.: Home based exercise programme for knee pain and knee osteoarthritis: Randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2002; 325(7367): 752.

Lan C, Lai JS, Chen SY: Tai Chi Chuan: An ancient wisdom on exercise and health promotion. Sports Med. 2002; 32(4): 217-224.

Klein PJ, Adams WD: Comprehensive therapeutic benefits of Taiji: A critical review. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2004; 83(9): 735-745.

Wang C, Collet JP, Lau J: The effect of Tai Chi on health outcomes in patients with chronic conditions: A systematic review. Arch Intern Med. 2004; 164(5): 493-501.

Taylor-Piliae RE: The effectiveness of Tai Chi exercise in improving aerobic capacity: An updated meta-analysis. Med Sport Sci. 2008; 52: 40-53.

Chan AS, Ho YC, Cheung MC, et al.: Association between mind-body and cardiovascular exercises and memory in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005; 53(10): 1754-1760.

Lam LC, Tam CW, Lui VW, et al.: Modality of physical exercise and cognitive function in Hong Kong older Chinese community. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009; 24(1): 48-53.

Arthritis Foundation. Tai Chi program. Available at http://www.arthritis.org/events/getinvolved/ProgramsServices/TaiChi.asp. Accessed December 9, 2010.

CDC: Public health and aging: Projected prevalence of self-reported arthritis or chronic joint symptoms among persons aged > 65 years—United States, 2005-2030. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2003; 52(21): 489-491.

Tsai PF, Chang JY, Chowdhury N, et al.: Enrolling older adults with cognitive impairment in research: Lessons from a study of Tai Chi for osteoarthritis knee pain. Res Gerontol Nurs. Oct 2009; 2(4): 228-234.

American Geriatrics Society Panel on Exercise and Osteoarthritis: Exercise prescription for older adults with osteoarthritis pain: Consensus practice recommendations. A supplement to the AGS Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of chronic pain in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001; 49(6): 808-823.

Tsai P, Beck C, Chang JY, et al.: The effect of Tai Chi on knee osteoarthritis pain in cognitively impaired elders: Pilot study. Geriatr Nurs. 2009; 30(2): 132-139.

Hartman CA, Manos TM, Winter C, et al.: Effects of T’ai Chi training on function and quality of life indicators in older adults with osteoarthritis. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2000; 48(12): 1553-1559.

Chen KM, Snyder M, Krichbaum K: Facilitators and barriers to elders’ practice of t’ai chi. A mind-body, lowintensity exercise. J Holist Nurs. 2001; 19(3): 238-255.

Au-Yeung SS, Hui-Chan CW, Tang JC: Short-form Tai Chi improves standing balance of people with chronic stroke. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2009; 23(5): 515-522.

Rosengren KS, Christou E, Yang Y, et al.: Quantification of taiji learning in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003; 51(8): 1186-1187.

Karp A, Paillard-Borg S, Wang HX, et al.: Mental, physical and social components in leisure activities equally contribute to decrease dementia risk. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2006; 21(2): 65-73.

Published

01/01/2011

How to Cite

Chang, PhD, J. Y., Tsai, RN, PhD, P.-F., Woods, S., Beck, RN, PhD, C., Roberson, PhD, P. K., & Rosengren, PhD, K. (2011). Teaching Tai Chi to elders with osteoarthritis pain and mild cognitive impairment. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 10(1), 11–16. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2011.0002

Issue

Section

Articles