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Effect of tai chi versus aerobic exercise for fibromyalgia: comparative effectiveness randomized controlled trial.
Wang, C, Schmid, CH, Fielding, RA, Harvey, WF, Reid, KF, Price, LL, Driban, JB, Kalish, R, Rones, R, McAlindon, T
BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 2018;360:k851
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Fibromyalgia is a complex disorder, characterised by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep problems and depression. Conventional treatment is multidisciplinary, including medication, exercise and CBT. This randomised, single-blinded trial aimed to determine the effectiveness of regular Tai Chi practice when compared to the standard recommended exercise, aerobic training. 226 adults diagnosed with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to either 24 weeks of supervised aerobic exercise or 12 or 24 weeks of Tai Chi classes. A standard fibromyalgia impact questionnaire was used to assess changes in pain and quality of life measures, along with patient perception of various aspects of their condition. The study found that Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire scores improved across all treatment groups, however the 24-week Tai Chi group saw a statistically significant greater improvement than the aerobic group. In addition, those patients on the 24-week Tai Chi programme experienced greater improvement than those on the 12-week Tai Chi programme. There was also higher attendance and fewer drop-outs in the Tai Chi groups in comparison to the aerobic exercise group. Tai Chi could therefore be considered as an alternative to aerobic exercise in a multi-disciplinary approach to fibromyalgia treatment.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of tai chi interventions compared with aerobic exercise, a current core standard treatment in patients with fibromyalgia, and to test whether the effectiveness of tai chi depends on its dosage or duration. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, 52 week, single blind comparative effectiveness trial. SETTING Urban tertiary care academic hospital in the United States between March 2012 and September 2016. PARTICIPANTS 226 adults with fibromyalgia (as defined by the American College of Rheumatology 1990 and 2010 criteria) were included in the intention to treat analyses: 151 were assigned to one of four tai chi groups and 75 to an aerobic exercise group. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomly assigned to either supervised aerobic exercise (24 weeks, twice weekly) or one of four classic Yang style supervised tai chi interventions (12 or 24 weeks, once or twice weekly). Participants were followed for 52 weeks. Adherence was rigorously encouraged in person and by telephone. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was change in the revised fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQR) scores at 24 weeks compared with baseline. Secondary outcomes included changes of scores in patient's global assessment, anxiety, depression, self efficacy, coping strategies, physical functional performance, functional limitation, sleep, and health related quality of life. RESULTS FIQR scores improved in all five treatment groups, but the combined tai chi groups improved statistically significantly more than the aerobic exercise group in FIQR scores at 24 weeks (difference between groups=5.5 points, 95% confidence interval 0.6 to 10.4, P=0.03) and several secondary outcomes (patient's global assessment=0.9 points, 0.3 to 1.4, P=0.005; anxiety=1.2 points, 0.3 to 2.1, P=0.006; self efficacy=1.0 points, 0.5 to 1.6, P=0.0004; and coping strategies, 2.6 points, 0.8 to 4.3, P=0.005). Tai chi treatment compared with aerobic exercise administered with the same intensity and duration (24 weeks, twice weekly) had greater benefit (between group difference in FIQR scores=16.2 points, 8.7 to 23.6, P<0.001). The groups who received tai chi for 24 weeks showed greater improvements than those who received it for 12 weeks (difference in FIQR scores=9.6 points, 2.6 to 16.6, P=0.007). There was no significant increase in benefit for groups who received tai chi twice weekly compared with once weekly. Participants attended the tai chi training sessions more often than participants attended aerobic exercise. The effects of tai chi were consistent across all instructors. No serious adverse events related to the interventions were reported. CONCLUSION Tai chi mind-body treatment results in similar or greater improvement in symptoms than aerobic exercise, the current most commonly prescribed non-drug treatment, for a variety of outcomes for patients with fibromyalgia. Longer duration of tai chi showed greater improvement. This mind-body approach may be considered a therapeutic option in the multidisciplinary management of fibromyalgia. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01420640.
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Effectiveness of a Therapeutic Tai Ji Quan Intervention vs a Multimodal Exercise Intervention to Prevent Falls Among Older Adults at High Risk of Falling: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Li, F, Harmer, P, Fitzgerald, K, Eckstrom, E, Akers, L, Chou, LS, Pidgeon, D, Voit, J, Winters-Stone, K
JAMA internal medicine. 2018;178(10):1301-1310
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Falls in older adults are associated with a number of health problems and place a financial burden on health care systems. This single-blind, randomised controlled trial of 670 adults at a high risk of falling, aimed to determine the effectiveness of a Tai Chi exercise programme in reducing the number of falls, compared to a multi-exercise programme (aerobic, strength, balance and flexibility) and a stretching class. Participants with an average age of 78 attended a one-hour class twice a week for 6 months. The incidence of falls was significantly lower in the Tai Chi exercise group compared to the multi-exercise and stretching programmes. The authors conclude that Tai Chi is a more effective approach for reducing falls in at-risk adults than conventional exercise programmes.
Abstract
Importance: Falls in older adults are a serious public health problem associated with irreversible health consequences and responsible for a substantial economic burden on health care systems. However, identifying optimal choices from among evidence-based fall prevention interventions is challenging as few comparative data for effectiveness are available. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a therapeutically tailored tai ji quan intervention, Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance (TJQMBB), developed on the classic concept of tai ji (also known as tai chi), and a multimodal exercise (MME) program relative to stretching exercise in reducing falls among older adults at high risk of falling. Design, Setting, and Participants: A single-blind, 3-arm, parallel design, randomized clinical trial (February 20, 2015, to January 30, 2018), in 7 urban and suburban cities in Oregon. From 1147 community-dwelling adults 70 years or older screened for eligibility, 670 who had fallen in the preceding year or had impaired mobility consented and were enrolled. All analyses used intention-to-treat assignment. Interventions: One of 3 exercise interventions: two 60-minute classes weekly for 24 weeks of TJQMBB, entailing modified forms and therapeutic movement exercises; MME, integrating balance, aerobics, strength, and flexibility activities; or stretching exercises. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary measure at 6 months was incidence of falls. Results: Among 670 participants randomized, mean (SD) age was 77.7 (5.6) years, 436 (65%) were women, 617 (92.1%) were white, 31 (4.6%) were African American. During the trial, there were 152 falls (85 individuals) in the TJQMBB group, 218 (112 individuals) in the MME group, and 363 (127 individuals) in the stretching exercise group. At 6 months, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) was significantly lower in the TJQMBB (IRR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.31-0.56; P < .001) and MME groups (IRR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.45-0.80; P = .001) compared with the stretching group. Falls were reduced by 31% for the TJQMBB group compared with the MME group (IRR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.52-0.94; P = .01). Conclusions and Relevance: Among community-dwelling older adults at high risk for falls, a therapeutically tailored tai ji quan balance training intervention was more effective than conventional exercise approaches for reducing the incidence of falls. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02287740.
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Effective nationwide school-based participatory extramural program on adolescent body mass index, health knowledge and behaviors.
Heo, M, Jimenez, CC, Lim, J, Isasi, CR, Blank, AE, Lounsbury, DW, Fredericks, L, Bouchard, M, Faith, MS, Wylie-Rosett, J
BMC pediatrics. 2018;18(1):7
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Adolescent obesity is a major public health concern that affects health status not only during adolescence but also during adulthood. The aim of this study was to test whether the HealthCorps program would improve weight status represented by body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) z-score and obesity class. A secondary aim was to identify knowledge and health behaviour domains that would be increased with the program. The study design was a two parallel arm quasi-experimental pre-post comparison design. A total of 2279 students from 62 schools participated in the HealthCorps program. Results indicate that HealthCorps program participation resulted in BMI z-score improvement among overweight/obese female students. Participation also resulted in increased knowledge in most domains regardless of sex and improved a few behaviour domains. However, it did not improve weight status among male students. Authors conclude that the HealthCorps was effective for BMI z-score improvements among female students in addition to significant positive effects on knowledge and a few behaviors in both sexes.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent obesity is a major public health concern. Open to all high school students regardless of weight status, HealthCorps is a nationwide program offering a comprehensive high school-based participatory educational program to indirectly address obesity. We tested a hypothesis that the HealthCorps program would decrease BMI z-scores among overweight or obese students, and reduce obesity rates, and evaluated its effects on health knowledge and behaviors. METHODS HealthCorps aimed to improve student knowledge and behaviors regarding nutrition quality, physical activity, sleep, breakfast intake, and mental resilience. Participating students received through HealthCorps coordinators weekly or bi-weekly classroom lessons either for a semester or a year in addition to various during- and after-school health-promoting activities and mentorship. Self-reported height and weight were collected along with questionnaires assessing knowledge and behaviors during 2013-2014 academic year among 14 HealthCorps-participating New York City high schools. This quasi experimental two-arm pre-post trial included 611 HealthCorps and 221 comparison arm students for the analytic sample. Sex-specific analyses stratified by weight status were adjusted for age and Hispanic ethnicity with clustering effects of schools and students taken into account. RESULTS HealthCorps female overweight/obese and obese student had a significant decrease in BMI z-scores (post-pre delta BMI z-score = -0.16 (95%CI = (-0.26, -0.05), p = 0.004 for the former; and = -0.23 (-0.44, -0.03), p = 0.028, for the latter) whereas comparison female counterparts did not. The HealthCorps students, but not the comparison students, had a significant increase for all knowledge domains except for the breakfast realm, and reported a greater number of significant behavior changes including fruit and vegetable intake and physical activities. CONCLUSIONS The HealthCorps program was associated with reduced BMI z-score in overweight/obese and obese female adolescents, with enhanced health knowledge and behavior for both sexes. With its wide reach, this may be a promising program to help combat adolescent obesity in schools. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study is registered as a clinical trial at the ClinicalTrials.gov registry with trial number NCT02277496 on September 10, 2014 (Retrospectively registered).
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A pooled analysis of post-diagnosis lifestyle factors in association with late estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer prognosis.
Nechuta, S, Chen, WY, Cai, H, Poole, EM, Kwan, ML, Flatt, SW, Patterson, RE, Pierce, JP, Caan, BJ, Ou Shu, X
International journal of cancer. 2016;138(9):2088-97
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Literature shows that women with oestrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) [cells that have a receptor protein that binds the hormone oestrogen] breast cancer have a better prognosis in the first several years after diagnosis but may have higher risk of recurrence in later years after diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of postdiagnosis lifestyle factors in association with breast cancer prognosis overall with ER+ late breast cancer outcomes among breast cancer survivors. This study is a prospective study based on ‘The After Breast Cancer Pooling Project’ which includes data from several long-term (>10 years), prospective cohorts of breast cancer survivors. This study included breast cancer survivors from the U.S. cohorts only i.e. a pooled analysis of over 6,500 ER+ breast cancer survivors. Results indicate that: • large post-diagnosis weight gain, obesity, and daily alcohol consumption (≥ 1 drink/day) increased the risk of late recurrence (≥5 years after diagnosis); • physical activity reduced the risk of all-cause mortality, but not the risk of late recurrence; and • current and heavy former smoking was associated with increased risk of late recurrence and all-cause mortality. Authors conclude that modifiable lifestyle factors were important predictors of late recurrence and mortality among long-term ER+ breast cancer survivors.
Abstract
Lifestyle factors have been well studied in relation to breast cancer prognosis overall; however, associations of lifestyle and late outcomes (>5 years after diagnosis) have been much less studied, and no studies have focused on estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer survivors, who may have high risk of late recurrence and mortality. We utilized a large prospective pooling study to evaluate the associations of lifestyle factors with late recurrence and all-cause mortality among 6,295 5-year ER+ Stage I-III breast cancer survivors. Pooled and harmonized data were available on clinical factors and lifestyle factors (pre- to post-diagnosis weight change, body mass index (BMI) (kg/m(2)), recreational physical activity, alcohol intake and smoking history), measured on average 2.1 years after diagnosis. Updated information for weight only was available. Study heterogeneity was evaluated by the Q-statistic. Multivariable Cox regression models were stratified by study. Adjusting for clinical factors and potential confounders, ≥ 10% weight gain and obesity (BMI, 30-34.99 and ≥ 35) were associated with increased risk of late recurrence (hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals): 1.24 (1.00-1.53), 1.40 (1.05-1.86) and 1.41 (1.02-1.93), respectively). Daily alcohol intake was associated with late recurrence, 1.28 (1.01-1.62). Physical activity was inversely associated with late all-cause mortality (0.81 (0.71-0.93) and 0.71 (0.61-0.82) for 4.9 to <17.4 and ≥ 17.4 metabolic equivalent-hr/week). A U-shaped association was observed for late all-cause mortality and BMI using updated weight (1.42 (1.15-1.74) and 1.40 (1.09-1.81), <21.5 and ≥ 35, respectively). Smoking was associated with increased risk of late outcomes. In this large prospective pooling project, modifiable lifestyle factors were associated with late outcomes among long-term ER+ breast cancer survivors.
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Multiple risk-behavior profiles of smokers with serious mental illness and motivation for change.
Prochaska, JJ, Fromont, SC, Delucchi, K, Young-Wolff, KC, Benowitz, NL, Hall, S, Bonas, T, Hall, SM
Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association. 2014;33(12):1518-29
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Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are at greater risk for chronic disease, which are largely preventable through health behaviour change. Within this population tobacco use is a major health concern and recent trials have demonstrated treating tobacco dependence supports mental health recovery. As risk behaviours tend to co-occur, the aim of this study was to examine the behavioural risk profiles of adult smokers with SMI to further understand frequencies and patterns of risks in order to best inform interventional programmes. In the context of a tobacco-treatment trial, 693 adult smokers from inpatient psychiatry wards were recruited. The Staging Health Risk Assessment was used which screens for risk status and readiness to change 11 health behaviours. The findings of this study showed that most smokers with SMI engage in multiple risks including poor diet, inadequate sleep, physical inactivity and marijuana use. This study can help prioritise health intervention programme targets and provide further benefit for this population.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are dying on average 25 years prematurely. The leading causes are chronic preventable diseases. In the context of a tobacco-treatment trial, this exploratory study examined the behavioral risk profiles of adults with SMI to identify broader interventional needs. METHOD Recruited from five acute inpatient psychiatry units, participants were 693 adult smokers (recruitment rate = 76%, 50% male, 45% Caucasian, age M = 39, 49% had income < $10,000) diagnosed with mood disorders (71%), substance-use disorders (63%), posttraumatic stress disorder (39%), psychotic disorders (25%), and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (25%). The Staging Health Risk Assessment, the primary measure used in this study, screened for risk status and readiness to change 11 health behaviors, referencing the period prior to acute hospitalization. RESULTS Participants averaged 5.2 (SD = 2.1) risk behaviors, including smoking (100%), high-fat diet (68%), inadequate fruits/vegetables (67%), poor sleep (53%), physical inactivity (52%), and marijuana use (46%). The percent prepared to change ranged from 23% for tobacco and marijuana to 76% for depression management. Latent class analysis differentiated three risk groups: the global higher risk group included patients elevated on all risk behaviors; the global lower risk group was low on all risks; and a mood and metabolic risk group, characterized by inactivity, unhealthy diet, sleep problems, and poor stress and depression management. The global higher risk group (11% of sample) was younger, largely male, and had the greatest number of risk behaviors and mental health diagnoses; had the most severe psychopathologies, addiction-treatment histories, and nicotine dependence; and the lowest confidence for quitting smoking and commitment to abstinence. CONCLUSION Most smokers with SMI engaged in multiple risks. Expanding targets to treat co-occurring risks and personalizing treatment to individuals' multibehavioral profiles may increase intervention relevance, interest, and impact on health.