Author: Abbott RB//Hui KK//Hays RD//Li MD////
Affiliation: Center for East West Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA and RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA 90407, USA
Conference/Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
Date published: 2007
Other:
Volume ID: 4 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 107-113 , Word Count: 126
This study examined whether a traditional low-impact mind-body exercise, Tai Chi, affects health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) and headache impact in an adult population suffering from tension-type headaches. Fortyseven participants were randomly assigned to either a 15 week intervention program of Tai Chi instruction or a waitlist control group. HRQOL (SF-36v2) and headache status (HIT-6trade mark) were obtained at baseline and at 5, 10 and 15 weeks post-baseline during the intervention period. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) improvements in favor of the intervention were present for the HIT score and the SF-36 pain, energy/fatigue, social functioning, emotional wellbeing and mental health summary scores. A 15 week intervention of Tai Chi practice was effective in reducing headache impact and also effective in improving perceptions of some aspects of physical and mental health.