The Effect of an 8-Week Tai Chi Exercise Program on Physical Functional Performance in Middle-Aged Women
View/ Open
Date
2013-10-16Author
Susan Zacharia
E. Laurette Taylor
Craig W. Hofford
Danielle R. Brittain
Paul W. Branscum
Metadata
Show full item recordSee DOI for License
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an 8-week Tai Chi Chih exercise program on physical functional performance (PFP) among women aged 45 to 65 years. A quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent comparison group was used. Forty-one healthy inactive women were assigned to either an intervention group (n = 19) or a comparison group (n = 19). A 60-min Tai Chi Chih exercise class was conducted twice a week for 8 weeks. PFP was measured at baseline and postintervention using the Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance–10 (CS-PFP 10). Between-group differences were analyzed using one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). After participating in the 8-week program, intervention group participants showed greater improvement in the CS-PFP measures (p < .05, η2 > .06). However, the comparison group had little changes. The findings from this study suggest that participation in an 8-week Tai Chi Chih exercise program can improve PFP in healthy, community-dwelling middle-aged women.
Citation
Zacharia, S., Taylor, E. L., Hofford, C. W., Brittain, D. R., & Branscum, P. W. (2013). The Effect of an 8-Week Tai Chi Exercise Program on Physical Functional Performance in Middle-Aged Women. Journal of Applied Gerontology. doi: 10.1177/0733464813504491