@article {Yeh1475, author = {Gloria Y Yeh and David H Roberts and Peter M Wayne and Roger B Davis and Mary T Quilty and Russell S Phillips}, title = {Tai Chi Exercise for Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Pilot Study}, volume = {55}, number = {11}, pages = {1475--1482}, year = {2010}, publisher = {Respiratory Care}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial of the effect of a tai chi program on quality of life and exercise capacity in patients with COPD. METHODS: We randomized 10 patients with moderate to severe COPD to 12 weeks of tai chi plus usual care (n = 5) or usual care alone (n = 5). The tai chi training consisted of a 1-hour class, twice weekly, that emphasized gentle movement, relaxation, meditation, and breathing techniques. Exploratory outcomes included disease-specific symptoms and quality-of-life, exercise capacity, pulmonary function tests, mood, and self-efficacy. We also conducted qualitative interviews to capture patient narratives regarding their experience with tai chi. RESULTS: The patients were willing to be randomized. Among 4 of the 5 patients in the intervention group, adherence to the study protocol was excellent. The cohort{\textquoteright}s baseline mean {\textpm} SD age, percent-of-predicted FEV1, and ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capacity were 66 {\textpm} 6 y, 50 {\textpm} 12\%, and 0.63 {\textpm} 0.14, respectively. At 12 weeks there was significant improvement in Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire score among the tai chi participants (1.4 {\textpm} 1.1), compared to the usual-care group (-0.1 {\textpm} 0.4) (P = .03). There were nonsignificant trends toward improvement in 6-min walk distance (55 {\textpm} 47 vs {\textendash}13 {\textpm} 64 m, P = .09), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (-9.0 {\textpm} 9.1 vs -2.8 {\textpm} 4.3, P = .20), and University of California, San Diego Shortness of Breath score (-7.8 {\textpm} 3.5 vs -1.2 {\textpm} 11, P = .40). There were no significant changes in either group{\textquoteright}s peak oxygen uptake. CONCLUSIONS: A randomized controlled trial of tai chi is feasible in patients with moderate to severe COPD. Tai chi exercise as an adjunct to standard care warrants further investigation. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT01007903)}, issn = {0020-1324}, URL = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/55/11/1475}, eprint = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/55/11/1475.full.pdf}, journal = {Respiratory Care} }