Recruitment for the randomized trial targeting community‐dwelling healthy adults
respiratory disease, angina, dermatological cancer, stroke, alcohol/drug abuse, pain, Parkinson's, and peripheral neuropathy, neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions
RESPIRATORY DISEASE, UNCONTROLLED HYPERTENSION, MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYARRHYTHMIA, SEIZURE DISORDER, STROKE, DIABETES MELLITUS, 3RD DEGREE HEART BLOCK, ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, CANCER (DIAGNOSIS), STAGE III PROSTATE CANCER
Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) Age 50–79 years; (2) living or working within the Greater Boston area; and (3) willing to adhere to a 6‐month Tai Chi training protocol. Exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) Chronic medical condition including cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, angina, atrial fibrillation, or presence of a pacemaker), stroke, respiratory disease requiring daily use of an inhaler; diabetes mellitus; active cancer (diagnosis <5 years ago and requiring ongoing chemotherapy or use of cytotoxic agents), stage III prostate cancer, dermatological cancer with reoccurrence; neurological conditions (e.g., seizure disorder, Parkinson's, and peripheral neuropathy); or significant neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions requiring chronic use of pain medication; (2) acute medical condition requiring hospitalization within the past 6 months; (3) self‐reported (current) smoking or alcohol/drug abuse; (4) uncontrolled hypertension (resting SBP > 160 or DBP > 100 mm Hg); (5) abnormal heart rate (resting HR > 100 bpm; < 50 bpm); (6) abnormal ECG (e.g., supraventricular tachyarrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, significant ST wave abnormality, 2nd and 3rd degree heart block); (7) pregnancy; (8) current use of cardio‐ or vaso‐active drugs and medications that can affect autonomic function including beta agonists and antagonists, drugs with anticholinergic properties (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants, or anti psychotics), and cholinesterase inhibitors; (9) self‐reported inability to walk continuously for 15 min unassisted; (10) regular Tai Chi practice within past 5 years; and (11) regular participation in physical exercise on average 4 or more times per week. Interested individuals underwent both an initial phone screen and an in‐person screen at the BIDMC Clinical Research Center. Eligible individuals provided written informed consent and underwent baseline testing prior to randomization.Participants within both groups were encouraged to follow usual healthcare as prescribed by their primary physicians, with no limitations set by the study other than those implicit in the eligibility criteria listed above. Participants in the Tai Chi group received 6 months of Tai Chi training in addition to usual care. All Tai Chi interventions were administered pragmatically at one of five prescreened Tai Chi schools within the Greater Boston area that met specific guidelines described elsewhere (Wayne et al., 