Therapeutic effects of a short-term Tai Chi exercise program for the elderly were evaluated in a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. This pilot study evaluated changes in flexibility, balance, sway, pain, and mood after a short slow-motion exercise. The program consisted of a series of movements involving turning, shifting weight, bending, and arm movements in combination with diaphragmatic breathing with slow movements. The measured effects included improved balance, sway, range of motion, decreased perceived pain, and lessened trait anxiety. Participants included 11 elderly females. Instruments consisted of standard goniometry, the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List, stopwatch measures of single-leg stance and a tandem walk (sway), and visual analog measurement of pain. Findings included significant improvement (p = .05) in trait anxiety and pain perception. Improvements in mood, flexibility, and balance may have a profound effect on the incidence of falls, injuries, resulting disability, and overall quality of life.
This study 1 focused on the extent of hypertension (HTN) and risk factors in 201 Vietnamese in a Gulf Coast community. Blood pressure and pulse were measured by a Welch-Allyn Vital Signs Monitor (Model AD-9000, Armstrong Medical, Lincolnshire, IL). The survey tool consisted of demographic information, health status, medications, dietary habits, smoking and alcohol use, education, family configuration, family health history, and 12 true or false items on HTN knowledge. Participants believed that HTN was inherited, presented symptoms, was caused by stress and lack of daily exercise, and had no cure. Of the factors correlated with high blood pressure, the most significant item was the total knowledge score. Nearly 44% of the participants in this sample were hypertensive. Other significant correlation findings included smoking r = .45, p < .05) and exercise r = .15, p < .05) were related to high blood pressure. Cultural sensitivity was found to be critical in the data collection process. This study demonstrates a profound need for health education related to cardiovascular disease, smoking, and alcohol use in Vietnamese Americans. Hypertension (HTN) is a prevalent and chronic condition affecting more than 60 million persons in the United States today (Burt et al., 1995). This silent killer can significantly re-
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