Tai chi mind-body exercise in patients with COPD: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic, progressively debilitating condition that is prevalent in the US and worldwide. Patients suffer from progressive dyspnea and exercise intolerance. Physical exercise is beneficial, but conventional pulmonary rehabilitation programs are underutilized. There remains a need for novel interventions that improve symptoms, quality-of-life, and functional capacity. Tai chi is an increasingly popular mind-body exercise that includes physical exercise, breathing training, mindful awareness, and stress management--components that are essential to the self-management of COPD. There are, however, limited data on the effectiveness of tai chi as a therapeutic intervention in this population.

Methods/design

The Primary Ai

SUBMITTER: Yeh GY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4158042 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature