***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Background —Tai Chi Chuan ( TTC ) exercise has beneficial effects on the components of physical condition and can produce a substantial reduction in the risk of multiple falls . Previous studies have shown that short term TCC exercise did not improve the scores in the single leg stance test with eyes closed and the sit and reach test . There has apparently been no research into the effects of TCC on total body rotation flexibility and heart rate responses at rest and after a three minute step test . Methods —In this cross sectional study , 28 male TCC practitioners with an average age of 67.5 years old and 13.2 years of TCC exercise experience were recruited to form the TCC group . Another 30 sedentary men aged 66.2 were selected to serve as the control group . Measurements included resting heart rate , left and right single leg stance with eyes closed , modified sit and reach test , total body rotation test ( left and right ) , and a three minute step test . Results —Compared with the sedentary group , the TCC group had significantly better scores in resting heart rate , three minute step test heart rate , modified sit and reach , total body rotation test on both right and left side ( p<0.01 ) , and both right and left leg st and ing with eyes closed ( p<0.05 ) . According to the American Fitness St and ards , the TCC group attained the 90th percentile rank for sit and reach and total body rotation test , right and left . Conclusion —Long term regular TCC exercise has favourable effects on the promotion of balance control , flexibility , and cardiovascular fitness in older adults Tai Chi , a moving meditation , is examined for its efficacy in post-stressor recovery . Forty-eight male and 48 female Tai Chi practitioners were r and omly assigned to four treatment groups : Tai Chi , brisk walking , mediation and neutral reading . Mental arithmetic and other difficult tests were chosen as mental challenges , and a stressful film was used to produce emotional disturbance . Tai Chi and the other treatments were applied after these stressors . After all treatments , the salivary cortisol level dropped significantly , and the mood states were also improved . In general the stress-reduction effect of Tai Chi characterized moderate physical exercise . Heart rate , blood pressure , and urinary catecholamine changes for Tai Chi were found to be similar to those for walking at a speed of 6 km/hr . Although Tai Chi appeared to be superior to neutral reading in the reduction of state anxiety and the enhancement of vigour , this effect could be partially accounted for by the subjects ' high expectations about gains from Tai Chi . Approaches controlling for expectancy level are recommended for further assessment The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Tai Chi Chih on balance , flexibility , mood , health status , and blood pressure in a sample of community-dwelling elders . A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used in the study . Participants were recruited from a senior center located in the suburbs of a large metropolitan area . The experimental group consisted of 24 volunteers over the age of 55 who performed 60 minutes of Tai Chi Chih once a week for 10 weeks and practice d at home . The control group consisted of 22 volunteers who continued with their current level of activity . Analysis of covariance revealed a significant difference between the two groups on balance ( F = 4.3 , p < .05 ) . This study suggests that Tai Chi Chih is a safe and enjoyable form of exercise that might improve balance in community-dwelling elders Older persons who are willing to begin exercise programs are often not willing to continue them . At the Atlanta FICSIT ( Frailty and Injuries : Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques ) site , individuals aged 70 + were r and omized to  Tai Chi ( TC ) , individualized balance training ( BT ) , and exercise control education ( ED ) groups for 15 weeks . In a follow-up assessment 4 months post-intervention , 130 subjects responded to exit interview questions asking about perceived benefits of participation . Both TC and BT subjects reported increased confidence in balance and movement , but only TC subjects reported that their daily activities and their overall life had been affected ; many of these subjects had changed their normal physical activity to incorporate ongoing TC practice . The data suggest that when mental as well as physical control is perceived to be enhanced , with a generalized sense of improvement in overall well-being , older persons ' motivation to continue exercising also increases OBJECTIVE To determine the effect on balance and strength of 3 months of intensive balance and /or weight training followed by 6 months of low intensity Tai Chi training for maintenance of gains . DESIGN R and omized control intervention . Four groups in 2 x 2 design : Control , Balance , Strength , Balance + Strength , using blinded testers . SETTING Exercise and balance laboratory at University of Connecticut Health Center . PARTICIPANTS Subjects were 110 healthy community dwellers ( mean age 80 ) who were free of dementia , neurological disease , and serious cardiovascular or musculoskeletal conditions . INTERVENTIONS Short-term training ( 3 months ) occurred 3 times/week ( 45 minutes Balance and Strength , 90 minutes Balance + Strength ) . Balance training included equilibrium control exercises of firm and foam surfaces and center-of-pressure biofeedback . Strengthening consisted of lower extremity weight-lifting . All subjects than received long-term group Tai Chi instruction ( 6 months , 1 hour , 1 time/week ) . MEASUREMENTS Losses of balance during Sensory Organization Testing ( LOB ) , single stance time ( SST ) , voluntary limits of stability ( FBOS ) , summed isokinetic torque of eight lower extremity movements ( ISOK ) , and usual gait velocity ( GVU ) . RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Balance training meaningfully improved all balance measures by restoring performance to a level analogous to an individual 3 to 10 years younger : LOB = -2.0 + /- 0.3 ( adjusted paired differences , P < .005 ANOVA ) ; SST = 7.0 + /- 1.2 sec ; and FBOS = 9.0 + /- 2.0 % of foot length ( P < .05 ) . Strengthening increased ISOK by 1.1 + /- 0.1 Nm kg-1 ( P < .005 ) . There was no interaction between balance and strength training . Significant gains persisted after 6 months of Tai Chi , although there was some decrement In this study , 126 patients ( 90 males , average age 56 years , range 39 - 80 ) were r and omised to Wu Chian-Ch'uan style Tai Chi ( 38 ) , aerobic exercise ( 41 ) or a non-exercise support group ( 47 ) following acute myocardial infa rct ion . Patients attended twice weekly for three weeks then weekly for a further five weeks . Heart rate and blood pressure were recorded before and after each session . Over the 11 sessions of exercise there was a negative trend in diastolic blood pressure only in the Tai Chi group ( Rs = 0.79 , p < 0.01 ) . Significant trends in systolic blood pressure occurred in both exercise groups ( Rs = 0.64 and 0.63 , both p < 0.05 ) . Only four ( 8 % ) patients completed the support group eight-week programme which was less than the number completing Tai Chi ( 82 % ; p < 0.001 ) and aerobic exercise groups ( 73 % ; p < 0.001 ) PURPOSE This study prospect ively evaluated the training effect of a 1-yr Tai Chi Chuan ( TCC ) program for low-risk patients with coronary artery bypass surgery ( CABS ) after a postoperative outpatient ( phase II ) cardiac rehabilitation program . METHODS Twenty patients with mean age of 56.5+/-7.4 yr completed this study . The  TCC group included nine men who practice d classical Yang TCC  with an exercise intensity of 48 - 57 % heart rate range ( HRR ) . The control group included 11 men whom were recommended to do a home-based self-adjusted exercise program with similar intensity of phase II cardiac rehabilitation . Grade d exercise tests were performed before and after 1 yr of training for all subjects . RESULTS Mean attendance of the TCC group was 3.8+/-1.5 times weekly in contrast to 1.7+/-1.1 times for the control group . During the follow-up examination , the TCC group increased 10.3 % in VO2peak ( from 26.2+/-4.4 to 28.9+/-5.0 mL x kg(-1 ) min(-1 ) , P<0.01 ) and increased 11.9 % in peak work rate ( from 135+/-26 W to 151+/-28 W , P<0.01 ) . However , the control group showed slight decrease in VO2peak from 26.0+/-3.9 to 25.6+/-4.6 mL x kg(-1 ) x min(-1 ) and in peak work rate from 131+/-23 W to 128+/-32 W. At the ventilatory threshold , the TCC group also showed significant increase in VO2 and work rate ( P<0.05 ) . The control group did not significantly change in these variables . CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrated that a 1-yr TCC program for low-risk patients with CABS could favorably enhance cardiorespiratory function OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of T'ai Chi training on arthritis self-efficacy , quality of life indicators , and lower extremity functional mobility in older adults with osteoarthritis . DESIGN A prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled clinical trial . Intervention length was 12 weeks , with outcomes measured before and after intervention using blinded testers . Group ( T'ai Chi vs Control ) x time ( 2 x 2 ) mixed factorial ANOVA . SETTING Allied Health Sciences Center at Springfield College , Springfield , MA PARTICIPANTS : A total of 33 community-dwelling participants ( mean age 68 ) diagnosed with lower extremity osteoarthritis and having no prior T'ai Chi training longer than 2 weeks . INTERVENTION T'ai Chi training included two 1-hour T'ai Chi classes per week for 12 weeks . MEASUREMENTS Arthritis self-efficacy ( Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale ) , quality of life indicators ( Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale ) , functional outcomes ( one-leg st and ing balance , 50-foot walking speed , time to rise from a chair ) . RESULTS T'ai Chi participants experienced significant ( P < .05 ) improvements in self-efficacy for arthritis symptoms , total arthritis self-efficacy , level of tension , and satisfaction with general health status . CONCLUSIONS A moderate T'ai Chi intervention can enhance arthritis self-efficacy , quality of life , and functional mobility among older adults with osteoarthritis . T'ai Chi training is a safe and effective complementary therapy in the medical management of lower extremity osteoarthritis CONTEXT The greatest needs of people with chronic conditions are long-term care , maximized independence , and improved quality of life . With conventional medicine becoming increasingly expensive , depersonalized , and unable to adequately meet such needs , many with chronic conditions are seeking health promotion strategies to effectively manage their symptoms . OBJECTIVE An 8-week t'ai chi program was conducted to explore psychosocial and physical benefits for those with multiple sclerosis . DESIGN Nonr and omized , noncontrolled pilot study . SETTING American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine , San Francisco , Calif. PATIENTS 19 patients with multiple sclerosis . INTERVENTION T'ai chi . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Walking speed ( distance = 25 ft ) , hamstring flexibility , and psychosocial well-being as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-form Health Survey . RESULTS Walking speed increased by 21 % and hamstring flexibility increased by 28 % . Patients experienced improvements in vitality , social functioning , mental health , and ability to carry out physical and emotional roles . CONCLUSIONS This pilot program was conducted entirely on a volunteer basis and led to the implementation of several additional t'ai chi classes for people with multiple sclerosis across the United States . T'ai chi and other health promotion programs offer help toward achieving the goals of increasing access to services , maximizing independence , and improving quality of life for people with chronic disabling conditions OBJECTIVE To evaluate the training effects of Chinese shadow boxing , Tai Chi Chuan ( TCC ) , on the maintenance of  cardiorespiratory function  in older individuals . DESIGN Prospect i ve study of a cohort of  TCC practitioners and a group of sedentary controls examined 2 years after initial examination . SETTING Research project at a hospital-based exercise physiology laboratory . PARTICIPANTS Eighty-four community-dwelling older adults ( mean age : 64 + /- 9 years ) with no significant cardiovascular , pulmonary , and musculoskeletal disease completed this study . The TCC group , 23 male and 22 female subjects , had been practicing TCC regularly for 6.7 + /- 3.3 years . The control group included 21 male and 18 female sedentary subjects with age and body size matched to the TCC group . INTERVENTION During the period of the study , the TCC practitioners practice d TCC 5.0 + /- 1.1 times per week . Each session included 20 minutes of warm up , 24 minutes of TCC training , and 10 minutes of cool down . The baseline cardiorespiratory function was recorded in the initial exercise test . The same measurements were repeated 2 years later to determine the rate of decline of cardiorespiratory function . Furthermore , heart rates ( HR ) were monitored in 18 men and 16 women during the performance of TCC to determine the exercise intensity of TCC . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The study measured 2-year trends of cardiorespiratory function in both groups . RESULTS In the TCC group , the males showed a 2.8 % decrease in maximal oxygen uptake ( VO2 
    Output:
    
Benefits were reported in balance and strength , cardiovascular and respiratory function , flexibility , immune system , symptoms of arthritis , muscular strength , and psychological effects .
CONCLUSIONS Tai Chi appears to have physiological and psychosocial benefits and also appears to be safe and effective in promoting balance control , flexibility , and cardiovascular fitness in older patients with chronic conditions .