Effects of Tai Chi programs on acute and chronic pulmonary conditions

Introduction: The health benefits of Tai Chi has been found to have numerous health benefits throughout all systems of the body. Due to Tai Chi's focus on controlled breath and diaphragmatic breathing, Tai Chi has been shown to improve pulmonary functions in chronic and acute pulmonary disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung cancer, and cystic fibrosis. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze studies related to Tai Chi intervention for subjects with pulmonary disease in order to compare Tai Chi program parameters. Methods: This systematic review examines how a Tai Chi program can improve lung function, forced expiratory volume of 1 second (FEV1), 6 minute walk distance (6MWD) test results, dyspnea scale measures, and overall sense of well-being. This review utilized random control trials from PubMed database within the past 15 years. Key words used were "Tai Chi," "intervention," "cystic fibrosis," "asthma," "COPD," "lung cancer". Results: Individuals with COPD benefitted most from a Tai Chi program with sessions twice per week for 12 weeks. Two studies showed sustained physiological and subject perceived improvements 12 weeks after completion of Tai Chi program for individuals with COPD. Conclusion: Tai Chi is a beneficial intervention for individuals with pulmonary disease in improving lung function, endurance, and overall sense of well-being. This systematic review revealed that further studies are needed to uncover sustained effects of Tai Chi programs and regarding pulmonary conditions such as adult and pediatric asthma, lung cancer, and cystic fibrosis.