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.
Yeh
Gloria Y
GY
Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. geh@caregroup.harvard.edu
Wood
Malissa J
MJ
Lorell
Beverly H
BH
Stevenson
Lynne W
LW
Eisenberg
David M
DM
Wayne
Peter M
PM
Goldberger
Ary L
AL
Davis
Roger B
RB
Phillips
Russell S
RS
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