Tai Chi for Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

August 27, 2007 updated by: Diakonhjemmet Hospital

Tai Chi for Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Quantitative and Qualitative Study

The purpose of this study was to study the impact of Tai Chi group exercise on physical function, health and disease activity of patients with RA, and to examine the patients' experience and perception of Tai Chi.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory and systemic disease that mainly affects the musculoskeletal system. The disease is often progressive and may result in reduced physical function, pain, fatigue, and joint destruction. Exercise programs are reported to improve physical functioning in patients with RA.

Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial art that was developed in the 13th century, and combines slow and gentle movements with mental focus.

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of a 12 weeks standardized Tai Chi group exercise program on disease activity, physical function and health status in patients with RA attending. Further, the patients experiences of possible effects of Tai Chi were to be obtained in a focus group interview.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

15

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Norway
      • Oslo, Norway, 0319
        • National resource center for rehabilitation in rheumatology. Diakonhjemmet Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of RA according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987
  • Stable medical treatment
  • No earlier experience with Tai Chi

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Lack of ability to bear weight on the lower extremities
  • Recent or ongoing disease flare
  • Unstable heart condition
  • Participation in other physical exercise interventions more than twice a week included in other intervention studies.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Other: A
Single group study
Other: Physical exercise
Tai Chi exercise, twice a week during 12 weeks

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Balance was measured with Walking in a Figure of Eight. Strength and endurance were measured by Timed-Stands test. Shoulder function was measured with Assessments of Shoulder Movement Impairment Scale.
Time Frame: 15 min
15 min

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Blood samples were collected for determination of sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). A rheumatologist examined the patients with the number of 28 swollen and tender joints.
Time Frame: 15 min
15 min
Self-reported health status included Health Assessment Questionnaire, visual analogue scale for fatigue, muscle pain, and fear of falling, Short Form Health Survey and Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale
Time Frame: 15 min
15 min
Focus group interview in order to capture the participants' experiences and perceptions with Tai Chi.
Time Frame: 1 hour
1 hour

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Diakonhjemmet Hospital

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Camilla Fongen, MSc, National resource center for rehabilitation in rheumatology

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

September 1, 2004

Study Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2005

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 27, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 27, 2007

First Posted (Estimate)

August 29, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

August 29, 2007

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 27, 2007

Last Verified

August 1, 2007

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 587-03244

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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