Effect Of Taiji Zen On Lung Rehabilitation In Patients With High Risk Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease And Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective To investigate the effect of Taichi Zen on exercise capacity, pulmonary function, clinical symptoms, quality of life and mentality on moderate and severe stable COPD patients, as well as patients at high risk of COPD.Methods Fifteen patients with moderate or severe COPD in stable stage and 15 patients with high risk of COPD are enrolled in this study from Guang’anmen Hospital(GAMH) pulmonary division from May 2015 to October 2015.Each patient received focused Taichi Zen training in GAMH Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation training room by a instructor in addition to conventional medical treatment. They learned one-hour-Taichi Zen class twice a week, for a total of 12 weeks. Outcome measures:Exercise capacity was measured by 6 minute Walk Test(6MWT) and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing(CPET);Pulmonary function was measured by the instrument of the Respiratory Function Laboratory of GAMH; Dyspnea was assessed with the modified Medical Research Council Scale(mMRC); Quality of life was evaluated by COPD Assessment Test(CAT) and St. George’s respiratory questionnaire(SGRQ); mental healthy status was evaluated by Self-rating anxiety scale(SAS) and Self-rating depression scale(SDS). The date was collected at baseline and after 12 weeks, then compared within each group.Results There were 15 patients in each group.Out of the 15 patients in the COPD group,1 patient was unable to complete the program due official business,while the remaining 14 patients as well as the 15 patients in the high risk of COPD group finished the study with good adherence to the study protocol.Date collected from 14 members of the COPD group and 15 members of the high risk of COPD group were analysed. After 12 weeks Taichi Zen training,compared the date within each group,COPD group’s 6MWD,VO2max,VO2max/kg, Load max and SGRQ were significantly improved (p<0.05) compared to baseline. COPD high risk group’6MWD,VO2max,SGRQ and CAT score were significantly improved(p<0.05), while the VO2max/kg,Load max,SAS,SDS,mMRC were also improved,but had no statistical differences.So is the mMRC,SAS,SDS in COPD group.In both groups, the pulmonary function had no significant improvement.Conclusions Taichi Zen training could significantly improve moderate or severe COPD patients and high risk of COPD patients’exercise capacity, oxygen uptake capacity and life quality. Also could improve psychological states. As to the high risk of COPD patients, it could improve their clinical manifestations, may have important significance on slowing down or stopping its further development to COPD. Taichi Zen is easy to operate and benefit for COPD prognosis, should be popularized as an treatment of pulmonary rehabilitation.