Evaluation of the Arthritis Foundation Tai Chi Program

Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)

时间窗: Baseline, 8 weeks from baseline assessment, 1 year from baseline asssessment

The disability scale of the HAQ will be used to assess physical functioning and disease progression. As a disease specific measure it is used in much of the rheumatological literature. It includes items querying 20 specific activities of daily living in 8 domains (dressing, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, activities, ready, grip) and adjusts scores based on the use of assistive devices. The HAQ is scored from 0 to 3, with 0 representing no disability and 3 representing maximum disability.

Arthritis symptoms.

时间窗: Baseline , 8 weeks from baseline assessment, 1 year from baseline asssessment

Arthritis symptoms include pain, stiffness and fatigue as measured using a 10 cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

50 Foot Walk Test

时间窗: Baseline, 8 weeks from baseline assessment

This is an objective measure of submaximal walking function in older adults with arthritis. It was developed to be an outcome measure of physical function for subjects participating in pharmacological clinical trials of arthritis medications.

Multidirectional Reach Test

时间窗: Baseline, 8 weeks from baseline assessment

This test is a balance test developed to study falls in the elderly. Performed while either sitting or standing, (feet comfortably apart) subjects reach in either a forward, backward or sideways direction. Distances reached are measured in inches. The tool has high inter-rater reliability (ICC=.99) and test-retest reliability (ICC-.98) The tool has been shown to have a concurrent validity with the Berg Balance and Timed up and Go Tests.

Arthritis Self Efficacy (ASE)

时间窗: Baseline, 8 weeks from baseline assessment, 1 year from baseline asssessment

Self-efficacy for managing arthritis will be assessed using two subscales from the Arthritis Self Efficacy Scale developed by Lorig and colleagues. The scale assess the degree to which an individual feels confident about his or her ability to manage his or her arthritis including decreasing pain, keeping pain from interfering with normal activities, and dealing with frustration of having arthritis. The pain subscale (5 items) and the other symptoms subscale (6 items) will be used. The items are scored on a Likert-type scale with 0= "very uncertain" and 100= "very certain"

Falls Surveillance

时间窗: Baseline, 8 weeks from baseline assessment, 16 weeks from baseline assessment.

Adapting a previously used method to the particular schedule of this protocol, both intervention and control participants will be given a "falls calendar" at baseline and instructed to record each day for 16 weeks if they had a fall. Falls are defined as "unintentially coming to rest on the floor or ground". This record will cover the intervention group through the 8 week Tai Chi course and or an 8 week follow up period. The control group record will cover the 8 weeks before Tai Chi and during the delayed Tai Chi course. The calendars will be mailed in after completion.

Timed Chair Stands Test

时间窗: Baseline, 8 weeks from baseline assessment

This test is a functional strength test. It tests the coordinated control of the body's center of mass in order to maintain dynamic balance as the base of support is transitioned from sitting on a chair with feet on the ground (3-point) to standing (2 point). Test-retest reliability has been show to be ICC=.84 for men and .92 for women. It has also shown to have concurrent validity with maximum weight adjusted leg press performance.

Single Leg Stance (SLS)

时间窗: Baseline, 8 weeks from baseline assessment

This is a timed test which has been correlated with amplitude and speed of sway in individuals without disease. The ability to maintain SLS generally decreases with increasing age. The test is performed with eyes open, and subjects stand on one leg while placing arms across their chest.