Managing cardiovascular risks with Tai Chi in people with coronary artery disease.

AIM: The paper is a report of the study to determine the effects of the cardiovascular risk management programme with Tai Chi on cardiovascular risks, health behaviours and quality of life in individuals with coronary artery disease. BACKGROUND: Many eligible patients with coronary artery disease do not participate in programmes for cardiovascular risk management, mainly because of lack of motivation, high cost or limited accessibility. Tai Chi has been introduced by health professionals to promote cardiovascular functioning and quality of life. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group was used. Eighty-five people with a mean age of 66 years completed pretest and 6-month follow-up measures in the following three groups: Tai Chi with education (n = 33), Tai Chi only (n = 19) and control (n = 33). Analysis of covariance was used to compare outcome variables with pretest variables as covariates to adjust for baseline differences. The data were collected in 2005-2006. RESULTS: In the Tai-Chi-with-education group there were statistically significant reductions in modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (F = 3.49, P = 0.035) and improvements in health behaviours (F = 6.12, P = 0.003), mental scores (F = 3.96, P = 0.023), and in the role-emotional (F = 7.30, P = 0.001) and vitality (F = 3.81, P = 0.026) dimensions of quality of life. CONCLUSION: Tai Chi was safely implemented as an alternative form of exercise in a cardiovascular risk management programme. Whether the beneficial effects of Tai Chi in cardiovascular risk management are comparable with those induced by other types of aerobic exercise requires further investigation.