| Keywords |
Tai Chi ; Self-efficacy ; Pain level ; Physical function (flexibility ; equilibrium ; abdominal muscle strength) |
| Abstract |
This study was conducted to examine the effect on Tai Chi exercise program in maintaining the health of the elderly. The research subjects were 125 people who were using the senior citizen’s club located in Seongnam city, Gyeonggi-do. A self-report questionnaire survey was carried out between March 21 and May 21 in 2007. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 12.0 program. The first hypothesis, “the experimental group will have a higher sense of self-efficacy than the control group after the experiment,” was supported (t=4.69, p=.000). The second hypothesis, “the experimental group will have more enhanced physical functions than the control group after the experiment,” the first sub-hypothesis, “the experimental group will have greater increase in flexibility than the control group after the experiment,” was supported (right arm:t=?4.302, left arm:t=?3.081, p=.003). The second sub-hypothesis, “the experimental group will have a greater sense of equilibrium than the control group after the experiment, “was supported for the right foot (t=.745, p=.000), but rejected for the left foot (t=1.587, p=.115). The third sub-hypothesis, “the experimental group will have stronger abdominal muscle than the control group after the experiment,” was supported (t=4.41, p=.000). As for the third hypothesis, “the experimental group will have greater decrease in pain than the control group after the experiment,” was supported (t=?3.06, p=.003). In conclusion, Tai Chi exercise was found to have positive effect on maintaining the health of the elderly. Accordingly, Tai Chi exercise program is believed to an effective nursing intervention for enhancing self-efficacy, decreasing pain, and enhancing physical functions for the elderly of the senior citizen’s club for the aged. |