Paper
Friday, 21 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Complementary and Alternative Health Practices
A Simple Method for Enhancing and Maintaining Health of Institutional Older Adults after Long-Term Simplified Tai Chi Exercise
Kuei-Min Chen, RN, PhD, Department of Nursing, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Jong-Ni Lin, RN, MS, Department of Nursing, Fooying University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Wen-Ting Chen, MS, Department of Nursing, Fooyin Institute of Technology, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan, Huey-Shyan Lin, PhD, Department of Nursing Administration, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Hui-Chuan Wu, BSN, MSN, Department of Midwifery, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Taiwan, and Chun-Huw Li, BS, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Learning Objective #1: know a new method of althernative therapy called the Simplified Tai-Chi Exercise Program (STEP).
Learning Objective #2: know a feasible way of carrying out the simplified Tai Chi exercise in long-term care facilities.
Objectives:  Evidence-based research reveals that practicing Tai Chi enhances physical and mental health status of older adults.  In order to disseminate Tai Chi as a long-term daily activity for institutional older adults, finding a more feasible way of leading this group of older adults to regular practice Tai Chi is essential.  The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness and feasibility of VCD-lead simplified Tai Chi exercise for enhancing and maintaining the physical and mental health of older adults resided in long-term care facilities. 
Design and methods:  A quasi-experimental, one-group, time-series design was used in this study.  Before the intervention, data were collected twice, three months apart.  The intervention, Simplified Tai-Chi Exercise Program (STEP), was carried out in two small groups three times a week and 50 minutes per practice session using the methods of instructor-lead initially for six months followed by the VCD-lead of group practice for another six months.  Data were collected four times at three-month intervals after the start of intervention.  Using convenience sampling, a total of 51 male older adults was recruited.
Results:  After a 12-month STEP intervention, the physical health status (such as cardio-respiratory function, systolic blood pressure, body flexibility, fall frequency, and hand gripping power; F = 2.46, p = .037; F = 2.73, p = .023; F = 3.31, p = .008; F = 2.74, p = .023; F = 5.43, p = .003, in respectively), and mental health status (such as quality of sleep; F = 3.81, p = .003) were significantly enhanced and maintained from baseline measurements. 
Conclusions and relevance to clinical practice:  Findings suggested that VCD-lead of group simplified Tai Chi practice has positive effects in enhancing and maintaining the health of older adults and seems to be an effective group physical activity in long-term care facilities.

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