A Feasible Method to Enhance and Maintain the Health of Elderly Living in Long-Term Care Facilities through Long-Term, Simplified Tai Chi Exercises

長期實施簡易太極拳運動以促進或維持機構老人身心健康之可行方式

陳桂敏(Kuei-Min Chen) ； 李純華(Chun-Huw Li) ； 林忠尼(Jong-Ni Lin) ； 陳雯婷(Wen-Ting Chen) ； 林惠賢(Huey-Shyan Lin) ； 吳惠娟(Hui-Chuan Wu)

《The Journal of Nursing Research》 15卷2期 (2007/06) Pp. 156-164

摘要

太極拳可促進老年人之身心健康。爲使太極拳能融入成為機構老人日常生活的一部份，尋找一較可行之方式帶領老年長輩以團體且常規性操練太極拳極為重要。本研究旨於測試以錄影帶引導簡易太極拳運動，於長期照護機構老年住民身心健康促進或維持之效益及可行性。採類實驗、單組、時序性設計。資料共收集六次，間隔三個月：兩次前測及四次後測。以方便性選樣，選取51位男性老年長輩為研究個案，以二個小團體方式，進行為期12個月之「銀髮太極健身操」練習（前六個月由指導士帶領；後六個月由錄影帶引導），每週三次，每次50分鐘。結果顯示，研究個案之身體健康（如：心肺功能、下半身柔軟度、及手握力）及心理健康（如：睡眠品質）於指導士帶領之「銀髮太極健身操」操練後顯著提昇，且持續維持至最後六個月之錄影帶引導（所有p值皆＜.05）。故，先以指導士帶領再以錄影帶引導之方式進行太極拳操練，是機構中長期活動帶動較可行之執行方式。

關鍵字

太極拳 ； 另類療法 ； 團體運動 ； 健康促進

並列摘要

Practicing Tai Chi offers the potential to enhance the physical and mental health of older adults. Identifying a feasible way to encourage regular Tai Chi practice is essential if Tai Chi is to be promoted as a long-term, daily activity for elderly care facility residents. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness and feasibility of using an audiovisual, simplified Tai Chi exercise module to enhance and maintain the health of long-term care facility residents. A quasi-experimental, one-group, time-series design was used. Data were collected six times (twice before the intervention; four times after intervention started) at three-month intervals. Fifty-one elderly male subjects were recruited by convenience sampling. A 50-minute Simplified Tai-Chi Exercise Program (STEP) was implemented in two small groups three times a week for 12 months. During the first six-month period, participants received guidance from an actual instructor. During the second six-month period, guidance was delivered via a video tape and displayed on a television screen. Results indicated that participants' physical health (cardio-respiratory function, lower body flexibility, and hand-gripping strength) and mental health (quality of sleep) had both improved significantly six months after intervention started, with improvements maintained throughout the end of the 12-month study (all p values＜.05). Instructor-led STEP training followed by practice using appropriate audiovisual aids represents a feasible and effective method to implement a long-term activity program in long-term elderly care facilities.

並列關鍵字

Tai Chi ； alternative therapy ； group exercise ； health promotion

參考文獻

Adler, P.,Good, M.,Roberts, B.,Synder, J.(2000).The effects of Tat Chi no older adults with chronic arthritis pain.Journal of Nursing Scholarship.32,377.

Brown, D. R.,Wang, Y.,Ward, A.,Ebbeling, C. B.,Fortlage, L.,Puleo, E.(1995).Chronic psychological effects of exercise sod exercise plus cognitive strategies.Medicine and Science in Spurts and Exercise.27,765-775.

Borne, N.,Grove. S. K.(2001).The practice of nursing research: Conduct, critique, & utilization.

Chang. W. J.,Chang, I. W.,Jaw, S. P.,P. Liu(2004).Healthy physical fitness sod disease prevention.Introduction of sports recreation and health science.272-300.

Chen, K. M.,Chen, W. T.,Huaag, M. F.(2006).Development of the Simplified Tai-Chi Exercise Program (STEP) for frail older adults.Complementary Therapies in Medicine.14,200-206.