Effectiveness of a Tai Chi Intervention for Improving Functional Fitness and General Health Among Ethnically Diverse Older Adults With Self-Reported Arthritis Living in Low-Income Neighborhoods

Abstract

Participating in TC for 16 weeks led to significant improvements in functional fitness and components of physical and mental health among older adults with self-reported arthritis. Tai Chi seems to be a valuable mode of physical activity for this population.

What makes community‐based physical activity programs for culturally and linguistically diverse older adults effective? A systematic review

“…Randomised controlled trials 5,16 were appraised using the Downs and Black Checklist for Clinical Trial Quality Assessment. 'Test-retest' studies 13,14,17,18 were appraised using the McMaster University Quantitative Critical Review Form. Finally, the mixed-methods study 19 was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.…”

“…In total, we selected seven articles, 5,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19] which reported the results from six studies focused on physical activity or exercise programs for CALD older adults. All of the articles used intervention designs: four used quasi-experimental, test-retest designs 13,14,17,18 ; two were randomised controlled trials 5,16 ; and one used a mixed-methods design with intervention and qualitative descriptive components. 19 The CALD populations in the selected articles were Hispanic/ Latino, 16 Korean, 19 Chinese 13,14,17 and Turkish.…”

“…5 One study used a multi-ethnic population with Chinese, Latino and European older immigrants. 18 The majority of the participants was ≥ 60 years old. 16,17,19 The oldest reported participant was aged 86 years.…”

“…16,17,19 The oldest reported participant was aged 86 years. 19 Four of the six studies reported in the selected articles were conducted in the USA, 13,14,17,19 one was conducted in Canada, 18 and one was conducted in the Netherlands. 5 Table 1 presents a summary of articles included in the review.…”

“…In addition, geographically focused recruitment strategies were reported in four articles. 17,18,20,21 One article 19 reported the intervention program was delivered in a communal area of the housing facility in which all participants resided. The programs described in the remaining articles were implemented in community or older people's centres that were within (or geographically close to) participants' home neighbourhoods.…”