Effects of tai chi mind-body movement therapy on functional status and exercise capacity in patients with chronic heart failure: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of a 12-week tai chi program on quality of life and exercise capacity in patients with heart failure.


METHODS
Thirty patients with chronic stable heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction < or =40% (mean [+/- SD] age, 64 +/- 13 years; mean baseline ejection fraction, 23% +/- 7%; median New York Heart Association class, 2 [range, 1 to 4]) were randomly assigned to receive usual care (n = 15), which included pharmacologic therapy and dietary and exercise counseling, or 12 weeks of tai chi training (n = 15) in addition to usual care. Tai chi training consisted of a 1-hour class held twice weekly. Primary outcomes included quality of life and exercise capacity. Secondary outcomes included serum B-type natriuretic peptide and plasma catecholamine levels. For 3 control patients with missing data items at 12 weeks, previous values were carried forward.


RESULTS
At 12 weeks, patients in the tai chi group showed improved quality-of-life scores (mean between-group difference in change, -25 points, P = 0.001), increased distance walked in 6 minutes (135 meters, P = 0.001), and decreased serum B-type natriuretic peptide levels (-138 pg/mL, P = 0.03) compared with patients in the control group. A trend towards improvement was seen in peak oxygen uptake. No differences were detected in catecholamine levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Tai chi may be a beneficial adjunctive treatment that enhances quality of life and functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure who are already receiving standard medical therapy.
Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. geh@caregroup.harvard.edu
Gloria Y
GY
Yeh
Malissa J
MJ
Wood
Beverly H
BH
Lorell
Lynne W
LW
Stevenson
David M
DM
Eisenberg
Peter M
PM
Wayne
Ary L
AL
Goldberger
Roger B
RB
Davis
Russell S
RS
Phillips
D000368:Aged; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D026302:Tai Ji / Q000379:methods*
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009638:Norepinephrine