A randomized controlled trial of 8-form Tai chi improves symptoms and functional mobility in fibromyalgia patients.

Clin Rheumatol. 2012 May 13;

Authors: Jones KD, Sherman CA, Mist SD, Carson JW, Bennett RM, Li F

Abstract
Previous researchers have found that 10-form Tai chi yields symptomatic benefit in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). The purpose of this study was to further investigate earlier findings and add a focus on functional mobility. We conducted a parallel-group randomized controlled trial FM-modified 8-form Yang-style Tai chi program compared to an education control. Participants met in small groups twice weekly for 90 min over 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was symptom reduction and improvement in self-report physical function, as measured by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), from baseline to 12 weeks. Secondary endpoints included pain severity and interference (Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), sleep (Pittsburg sleep Inventory), self-efficacy, and functional mobility. Of the 101 randomly assigned subjects (mean age 54 years, 93 % female), those in the Tai chi condition compared with the education condition demonstrated clinically and statistically significant improvements in FIQ scores (16.5 vs. 3.1, p = 0.0002), BPI pain severity (1.2 vs. 0.4, p = 0.0008), BPI pain interference (2.1 vs. 0.6, p = 0.0000), sleep (2.0 vs. -0.03, p = 0.0003), and self-efficacy for pain control (9.2 vs. -1.5, p = 0.0001). Functional mobility variables including timed get up and go (-.9 vs. -.3, p = 0.0001), static balance (7.5 vs. -0.3, p =  0.0001), and dynamic balance (1.6 vs. 0.3, p = 0.0001) were significantly improved with Tai chi compared with education control. No adverse events were noted. Twelve weeks of Tai chi, practice twice weekly, provided worthwhile improvement in common FM symptoms including pain and physical function including mobility. Tai chi appears to be a safe and an acceptable exercise modality that may be useful as adjunctive therapy in the management of FM patients. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier, NCT01311427).

PMID: 22581278 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

A 1-Year Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Mind Body Exercise (Tai Chi) With Stretching and Toning Exercise on Cognitive Function in Older Chinese Adults at Risk of Cognitive Decline.

J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2012 May 11;

Authors: Lam LC, Chau RC, Wong BM, Fung AW, Tam CW, Leung GT, Kwok TC, Leung TY, Ng SP, Chan WM

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness of Chinese-style mind-body exercise (24 forms simplified Tai Chi) versus stretching and toning exercise in the maintenance of cognitive abilities in Chinese elders at risk of cognitive decline. DESIGN: A 1-year single-blind cluster randomized controlled trial. SETTINGS: Community centers and residential homes for elders in Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 389 subjects at risk of cognitive decline (Clinical Dementia Rating, CDR 0.5 or amnestic-MCI) participated in an exercise intervention program. INTERVENTION: A total of 171 subjects were trained with Tai Chi (Intervention [I]) and 218 were trained with stretching and toning exercise (Control [C]). METHODS: Cognitive and functional performance were assessed at the baseline, and at 5, 9, and 12 months. Data were analyzed using multilevel mixed models. Primary outcomes included progression to clinical dementia as diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria, and change of cognitive and functional scores. Secondary outcomes included postural balance measured by the Berg Balance Scale neuropsychiatric and mood symptoms measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. RESULTS: At 1 year, 92 (54%) and 169 (78%) participants of the I and C groups completed the intervention. Multilevel logistic regression with completers-only analyses controlled for baseline differences in education revealed that the I group had a trend for lower risk of developing dementia at 1 year (odds ratio 0.21, 95% CI 0.05-0.92, P = .04). The I group had better preservation of CDR sum of boxes scores than the C group in both intention-to-treat (P = .04) and completers-only analyses (P = .004). In completers-only analyses, the I group had greater improvement in delay recall (P = .05) and Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia scores (P = .02). CONCLUSION: Regular exercise, especially mind-body exercise with integrated cognitive and motor coordination, may help with preservation of global ability in elders at risk of cognitive decline; however, logistics to promote long-term practice and optimize adherence needs to be revisited.

PMID: 22579072 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

A prevalent founder mutation and genotype-phenotype correlations of OTOF in Japanese patients with auditory neuropathy.

Clin Genet. 2012 May 10;

Authors: Matsunaga T, Mutai H, Kunishima S, Namba K, Morimoto N, Shinjo Y, Arimoto Y, Kataoka Y, Shintani T, Morita N, Sugiuchi T, Masuda S, Nakano A, Taiji H, Kaga K

Abstract
Auditory neuropathy is a hearing disorder characterised by normal outer hair cell function and abnormal neural conduction of the auditory pathway. Aetiology and clinical presentation of congenital or early-onset auditory neuropathy are heterogeneous, and their correlations are not well understood. Genetic backgrounds and associated phenotypes of congenital or early-onset auditory neuropathy were investigated by systematically screening a cohort of 23 patients from unrelated Japanese families. 13 of the 23 patients (56.5%) had biallelic mutations in OTOF whereas little or no association was detected with GJB2 or PJVK, respectively. Nine different mutations of OTOF were detected, and seven of them were novel. p.R1939Q, which was previously reported in one family in the United States, was found in 13 of the 23 patients (56.5%), and a founder effect was determined for this mutation. p.R1939Q homozygotes and compound heterozygotes of p.R1939Q and truncating mutations or a putative splice site mutation presented with stable, and severe-to-profound hearing loss with a flat or gently sloping audiogram, whereas patients who had non-truncating mutations except for p.R1939Q presented with progressive, moderate hearing loss with a steeply sloping or gently sloping audiogram, or temperature-sensitive auditory neuropathy. These results support the clinical significance of comprehensive mutation screening for auditory neuropathy.

PMID: 22575033 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

EEG source imaging during two Qigong meditations.

Cogn Process. 2012 May 5;

Authors: Faber PL, Lehmann D, Tei S, Tsujiuchi T, Kumano H, Pascual-Marqui RD, Kochi K

Abstract
Experienced Qigong meditators who regularly perform the exercises “Thinking of Nothing” and “Qigong” were studied with multichannel EEG source imaging during their meditations. The intracerebral localization of brain electric activity during the two meditation conditions was compared using sLORETA functional EEG tomography. Differences between conditions were assessed using t statistics (corrected for multiple testing) on the normalized and log-transformed current density values of the sLORETA images. In the EEG alpha-2 frequency, 125 voxels differed significantly; all were more active during “Qigong” than “Thinking of Nothing,” forming a single cluster in parietal Brodmann areas 5, 7, 31, and 40, all in the right hemisphere. In the EEG beta-1 frequency, 37 voxels differed significantly; all were more active during “Thinking of Nothing” than “Qigong,” forming a single cluster in prefrontal Brodmann areas 6, 8, and 9, all in the left hemisphere. Compared to combined initial-final no-task resting, “Qigong” showed activation in posterior areas whereas “Thinking of Nothing” showed activation in anterior areas. The stronger activity of posterior (right) parietal areas during “Qigong” and anterior (left) prefrontal areas during “Thinking of Nothing” may reflect a predominance of self-reference, attention and input-centered processing in the “Qigong” meditation, and of control-centered processing in the “Thinking of Nothing” meditation.

PMID: 22562287 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Biomechanical characteristics of stepping in older Tai Chi practitioners.

Gait Posture. 2012 May 4;

Authors: Wu G

Abstract
This study compared the biomechanical characteristics of stepping in 10 older (aged 55+ years) Tai Chi (TC) practitioners and 10 age-matched non-TC (NTC) controls. Subjects were asked to take a step on an auditory cue as fast as possible, in the forward and backward directions, and with and without mental distractions, respectively. Stepping characteristics included step initiation time, preparation time for foot off, foot contact time, and step length and width. The results showed that both groups had similar step initiation time, step length and forward step width (p>0.466). Although mental distraction significantly delayed step initiation time and foot contact time, and shortened step length in both groups (p<0.003), TC practitioners had significantly shorter preparation and foot contact time, and wider backward step width than controls regardless of mental distraction (p<0.024). These group differences are in favor of TC practitioners in situations of postural recovery from potential falls, even with mental distractions, and may explain the positive effect of TC practice on fall reduction in older adults.

PMID: 22560715 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Exercise-Related Quality of Life in Subjects with Asthma: A Systematic Review.

J Asthma. 2012 May 3;

Authors: Pacheco DR, Silva MJ, Alexandrino AM, Torres RM

Abstract
Objective. The purpose of this review was to analyze, based on a review of the current literature, the effects of physical activity on the quality of life (QoL) of subjects with asthma. Methods. The authors conducted a search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) between January 2000 and August 2010 in a group of major databases of health sciences (Academic Search Complete, Directory of Open Access Journals, Elsevier-Science Direct, Highwire Press, PubMed, Scielo Global, Scirus, Scopus, SpringerLink, Taylor & Francis, and Wiley Interscience) with the keywords asthma, QoL, physical activity, exercise, training, and program in all possible combinations. Citations and references of each study selected were also examined. Results. Of the 1075 studies identified, only 11 were included. Five of these studies were performed in children between the ages of 7 and 15 and the remaining studies were performed on adults. Intervention programs were divided into aerobic training programs and breathing exercises programs. All aerobic training programs showed improvements in QoL, demonstrating a positive influence of aerobic training on asthma. Conclusions. There is a noticeable trend in the benefit of aerobic training programs in the QoL for individuals with asthma. The breathing exercises programs were few and heterogeneous, making it difficult to reach a positive conclusion on whether it could be recommended for the improvement of QoL in this pathology. There is a great need for more RCTs with methodological rigor.

PMID: 22554022 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Tai chi for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

N Engl J Med. 2012 May 3;366(18):1737-8; author reply 1738

Authors: Corcos DM, Comella CL, Goetz CG

PMID: 22551137 [PubMed - in process]

Tai chi for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

N Engl J Med. 2012 May 3;366(18):1737; author reply 1738

Authors: Liu T, Lao L

PMID: 22551136 [PubMed - in process]

Qigong Massage for Motor Skills in Young Children With Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome.

Am J Occup Ther. 2012 May;66(3):348-355

Authors: Silva LM, Schalock M, Garberg J, Smith CL

Abstract
In this article, we present a small randomized controlled study evaluating the effect of a dual parent- and trainer-delivered qigong massage methodology on motor skills and sensory responses in 28 children under age 4 with developmental delay and motor tone abnormalities. Fourteen children had high motor tone as a result of cerebral palsy (CP), and 14 children had low motor tone as a result of Down syndrome. Multivariate analysis and post hoc analysis of variance showed large effect-size improvements in Peabody Gross Motor Scale (PGMS) Object Manipulation scores (p < .01) and large effect-size improvements in overall PGMS scores (p < .04) in treatment versus control groups after 5 mo intervention. Follow-up evaluation 10 mo from the start indicated continued improvement. Sensory responses showed no treatment effect. The results suggest further investigation of qigong massage as a promising avenue for research to improve motor skills in young children with CP and Down syndrome.

PMID: 22549600 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]