Department of Physiotherapy, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Hospital Road, Concord, NSW 2139 Australia.
Contemp Clin Trials. 2011 Mar;32(2):267-72. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2010.11.006. Epub 2010 Nov 13.
The effectiveness of exercise training in people with COPD is well established. However, alternative methods of training such as Tai Chi have not been widely evaluated. This paper describes the study design of a clinical trial which aims to determine if short form Sun-style Tai Chi improves exercise capacity and quality of life in people with COPD.
This randomised controlled trial will be conducted with concealed allocation and blinded outcome assessment. Participants will be recruited from Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney. After baseline measurement, participants will be randomised into either a Tai Chi Group or a Control Group. Participants in the Tai Chi Group will undergo supervised training twice weekly for twelve weeks. Participants in the Control Group will undergo usual medical care. Measurements will be taken at baseline (week 0) and after the study period (week 12). The primary outcome measurement is endurance walking capacity assessed by the endurance shuttle walk test. Secondary outcomes include measures related to peak walking capacity, physical performance, balance, muscle strength and quality of life. Details of the physiological responses during Tai Chi will be collected in a small cohort to determine the training intensity of Sun-style Tai Chi.
If short form Sun-style Tai Chi improves exercise capacity, physical performance and quality of life in people with COPD, this would provide an alternate form of exercise training which does not require exercise equipment thus making effective exercise training more accessible for the large numbers of people with COPD.
目的：本研究旨在确定短式简化二十四式太极拳能否提高 COPD 患者的运动能力和生活质量。
方法：本随机对照试验采用隐匿分组和盲法结局评估。研究对象将在悉尼康科德退伍军人总医院招募。基线测量后，将参与者随机分为太极拳组或对照组。太极拳组将接受每周两次、为期 12 周的监督训练。对照组将接受常规医疗护理。测量将在基线（第 0 周）和研究期间（第 12 周）进行。主要结局测量是耐力 shuttle 步行试验评估的耐力步行能力。次要结局包括与峰值步行能力、身体表现、平衡、肌肉力量和生活质量相关的测量。将在一小部分人群中收集太极拳期间的生理反应详细信息，以确定简化二十四式太极拳的训练强度。
讨论：如果短式简化二十四式太极拳能提高 COPD 患者的运动能力、身体表现和生活质量，那么它将提供一种不需要运动设备的替代运动训练形式，从而使更多的 COPD 患者更容易获得有效的运动训练。
