The effects of Tai Chi on waist circumference and blood pressure in the elderly.
Young Mee Lee
PMID 28210067WHAT IT FOUND
A 6-week group program with Tai Chi lowered waist circumference by 1.8 cm and systolic blood pressure by 16.6 mmHg in older adults compared with control.
The design was nonrandomized, so this suggests possible benefit but not proof.
Key findings
01After the intervention, waist circumference decreased by 1.8 cm in the group that received the Tai Chi program and increased by 0.2 cm in the control group, with a significant change between groups (p=0.001).
02Systolic blood pressure decreased by 16.6 mmHg in the group that received the Tai Chi program and increased by 0.8 mmHg in the control group, with a significant change between groups (p=0.001).
03Diastolic blood pressure decreased by 10.1 mmHg in the group that received the Tai Chi program and increased by 0.9 mmHg in the control group, with a significant change between groups (p=0.001).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was described as a nonequivalent control group quasi experimental design, not a randomized controlled trial, so baseline differences cannot be fully ruled out. The control group data were collected for 6 weeks first, then the experimental group data were collected for 6 weeks, so calendar time may have differed between groups. The paper gives inconsistent group sizes: it says 68 individuals were divided into 36 per group, then says 2 withdrew from each group leaving 34 per group. The intervention lasted only 6 weeks, with no follow up after the intervention, so it does not show whether the changes persisted. Participants were older adults who could perform physical activities independently and had no health problems preventing exercise, so results may not apply to frail or medically unstable patients. The paper does not report blinding of participants, instructors, or outcome assessors. Outcomes were limited to waist circumference and blood pressure, not cardiovascular events, metabolic syndrome, or quality of life.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that Tai Chi alone caused the reductions or that it prevents cardiovascular disease. The study was not a randomized controlled trial, had no follow up, and measured only waist circumference and blood pressure over 6 weeks.