The effect of twelve weeks of tai chi exercises on sleep quality, pain perception, and death anxiety in elderly women

Abstract

Physical activity has protective effects against mental illness, especially in the elderly. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 12 weeks of tai chi exercises on sleep quality, pain perception, and death anxiety in elderly women. The present study was semi-experimental, with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The participants were 80 elderly women who were referred to the Health Center of Urmia University. Seventy subjects (35 in the control group and 15 in the experimental group) were selected purposefully and based on their accessibility. The experimental group practiced Tai Chi with 55–70% intensity for about12 weeks, three 60-minute sessions each week. Data gathered using three questionnaires including the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), McGill Pain Perception Questionnaire, and Templer Death Anxiety Questionnaire (1970). SPSS software version 22 was employed to obtain the analysis of covariance of data. Results indicated that after 12 weeks of Tai Chi exercises, the sleep quality of the experimental group improved (P<0.01) as opposed to that of the control group. Furthermore, the pain perception and death anxiety rate in the experimental group decreased (P<0.01) compared to that of the control group. Finding revealed that performing Tai Chi exercises improved sleep quality, reduced pain perception, and protected elders from death anxiety as well.