Author: Zheng S1, Kim C2, Lal S1, Meier P1, Sibbritt D1, Zaslawski C1
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>University of Technology Sydney.
<sup>2</sup>Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney.
Conference/Journal: J Clin Psychol.
Date published: 2017 Jun 13
Other:
Special Notes: doi: 10.1002/jclp.22482. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 166
OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled trial was undertaken to determine whether 12 weeks of Tai Chi (TC) practice can reduce anxiety in healthy but stressed people.
METHOD: Fifty participants were randomized into TC (n=17), exercise (n=17), and wait-list (WL) groups (n=16). Outcome measures used were State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale 14 (PSS14), blood pressure and heart rate variability, visual analogue scale (VAS), and Short Form 36.
RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed from baseline for both TC and exercise groups for both state (p <0.01) and trait (p <0.01) anxiety, PSS14 (p <0.01), VAS (p <0.01), mental health domain (p <0.01), and vitality domain (p <0.01). Superior outcomes were also observed for TC when compared with WL for state and trait anxiety (p <0.01) and mental health domain (p <0.05).
CONCLUSION: TC reduces stress levels in healthy individuals and provides a safer, cost effective, and less physically vigorous alternative to exercise.
© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
KEYWORDS: Tai Chi; alternative medicine; clinical trial; mindfulness; randomized controlled trial; stress
PMID: 28608523 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22482