Clinical trial NCT00522054: Tai Chi for Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Official title: Tai Chi for Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Quantitative and Qualitative Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Keywords: Exercise
Physical function
Rheumatoid arthritis
Tai Chi
Lead sponsor: Diakonhjemmet Hospital
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2007-08-29
Enrollment: 15
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: 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.

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.

Eligibility criteria: 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.

Primary outcomes:
measure: 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.
timeFrame: 15 min
Secondary outcomes:
measure: 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.
timeFrame: 15 min
measure: 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
timeFrame: 15 min
measure: Focus group interview in order to capture the participants' experiences and perceptions with Tai Chi.
timeFrame: 1 hour
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Oslo
country: Norway
facility: National resource center for rehabilitation in rheumatology. Diakonhjemmet Hospital
Study officials:
affiliation: National Resource Center for Rehabilitation in Rheumatology
name: Camilla Fongen, MSc
role: STUDY_CHAIR
References:
citation: Uhlig T, Fongen C, Steen E, Christie A, Odegard S. Exploring Tai Chi in rheumatoid arthritis: a quantitative and qualitative study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2010 Mar 5;11:43. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-11-43.