The Effects of Tai Chi in Older Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiac exercise rehabilitation consists of walking and bicycling activities. As the population requiring rehabilitation is aging, other forms of exercise may be useful and better tolerated. Tai Chi has been used for centuries, is easy to perform even by more debilitated individuals, and promotes improvement in blood pressure, fitness, and relaxation. Tai Chi may be more beneficial for frail cardiac patients because it is especially suited for the unfit and elderly, and can be practiced anywhere. Further studies are required to assess this form of exercise in cardiac patients. The objective of this randomized controlled study is to compare the effects of Tai Chi to "sham exercise" training in 200 frail cardiac patients who have completed six months of cardiac rehabilitation and are 60 years of age or older. Participants will be randomized to Tai Chi or "sham exercise" training and have their gait speed, blood pressure, heart rate, exercise capacity, balance, quality of life and cognitive function assessed before and after 24 week of training.