title: Preliminary findings of a 4-month Tai Chi intervention on tenderness, functional capacity, symptomatology, and quality of life in men with fibromyalgia.
abstract: The study aimed to determine the effects of a 4-month Tai Chi intervention on tenderness, functional capacity, symptomatology, and quality of life in men with fibromyalgia. The effect of a 3-month detraining period was also analyzed. Six men with fibromyalgia (age 52.3 ± 9.3 years) followed a 4-month Tai Chi intervention. The outcome variables were tenderness, functional capacity (30-second chair stand, handgrip strength, chair sit and reach, back scratch, blind flamingo, 8 feet up and go, and 6-minute walk tests), and self-administered questionnaires. A significant improvement (p = .028) after the intervention period for the chair sit and reach test was found, such improvement was maintained after the detraining phase. Tenderness, symptomatology, and quality of life did not significantly change after the intervention period or the detraining phase. In summary, a 4-month Tai Chi intervention improved lower body flexibility in men with fibromyalgia. This improvement persisted after the detraining period.
authors.affiliation: University of Sevilla, Seville, Spain. anellba@ugr.es
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carbonell-Baeza
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Virginia A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Aparicio
authors.forename: Francisco B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tercedor
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delgado-Fernández
authors.forename: Jonatan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ruiz
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054526:Men's Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D013030:Spain; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D026302:Tai Ji; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome