The Effect of <i>t'ai chi</i> on Quality of Life in Centrally Obese Adults with Depression.

Author: Liu X1,2,3, Williams G4, Kostner K3,5, Brown WJ6
Affiliation:
1School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
2School of Wushu, Wuhan Sport University, Wuhan, China.
3The University of Queensland School of Medicine, Brisbane, Australia.
4The University of Queensland School of Public Health, Brisbane, Australia.
5Department of Cardiology, Mater Health Services, Brisbane, Australia.
6The University of Queensland School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, Brisbane, Australia.
Conference/Journal: J Altern Complement Med.
Date published: 2019 Aug 26
Other: Special Notes: doi: 10.1089/acm.2019.0050. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 243


Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to assess the effects of a t'ai chi program on health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in centrally obese adults with depression. Methods: Two hundred thirteen participants were randomly allocated to either a t'ai chi intervention group (n = 106) or a usual medical care control group (n = 107). The t'ai chi group involved 3 × 1.5 h supervised and group-based training sessions per week for 24 weeks. Indicators of HR-QOL were assessed by questionnaire at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. Results: There were significant improvements in favor of the t'ai chi group for the SF-36 subscales of physical functioning (p < 0.01), role physical (p < 0.01), and role emotional (p < 0.01) at 12 and 24 weeks. Scores for bodily pain were improved in the control group at 12 weeks (p < 0.01) and 24 weeks (p < 0.05), but not in the t'ai chi group. There was also a significant improvement in favor of the control group in general health (p < 0.05) at 12 weeks, but not at 24 weeks. A further analysis showed clinically significant changes in favor of the t'ai chi group in physical functioning (p < 0.05 or p = 0.05), role physical (p < 0.05), and role emotional (p < 0.05), and in favor of the control group in bodily pain (p < 0.05) at 12 and 24 weeks. Conclusions: The findings show that t'ai chi exercise improved indicators of HR-QOL including physical functioning, role physical, and role emotional in centrally obese adults with depression.

KEYWORDS: ; central obesity; depression; exercise; quality of life

PMID: 31448950 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2019.0050

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