title: Teaching Tai Chi to elders with osteoarthritis pain and mild cognitive impairment.
abstract: This article describes the authors' experience and strategies in teaching Tai Chi, a gentle exercise derived from an ancient Chinese martial art, to mildly cognitively impaired elders to relieve osteoarthritic knee pain. The 12-form Sun-style Tai Chi, a set of Tai Chi forms endorsed by the American Arthritis Foundation, was used in the program. Teaching Tai Chi to elders with mild cognitive impairment requires particular strategies tailored to their physical and cognitive frailty. When effectively taught, Tai Chi can be a unique and cost-effective intervention for elders with knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.
authors.forename: Jason Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.
authors.forename: Pao-Feng
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: University Rehab Therapy and Fitness Center, Reynolds Institute on Aging, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.
authors.forename: Sheery
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Colleges of Medicine and Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.
authors.forename: Paula K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Roberson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rosengren
keywords: Tai Chi; cognitive impairment; osteoarthritis; teaching strategy