Table 2.
Mean change (95% confidence interval) from baseline in primary and secondary outcomes
| Variables | Tai chi (n=151) | Aerobic exercise 2×24 weeks (n=75) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1×12 weeks (n=39) | 2×12 weeks (n=37) | 1×24 weeks (n=39) | 2×24 weeks (n=36) | |||
| FIQR score (range 0-100)*: | ||||||
| Week 12 | −16.5 (−23.4 to −9.6) | −12.3 (−19.0 to −5.6) | −6.6 (−12.8 to −0.3) | −17.2 (−24.0 to −10.3) | −6.2 (−11.0 to −1.4) | |
| Week 24 | −11.4 (−18.7 to −4.1) | −11.4 (−18.4 to −4.4) | −16.7 (−23.4 to −10.1) | −25.4 (−32.3 to −18.4) | −9.2 (−14.3 to −4.1) | |
| Week 52 | −14.3 (−21.7 to −7.0) | −10.2 (−17.3 to −3.1) | −13.6 (−20.4 to −6.8) | −22.7 (−30.0 to −15.4) | −11.7 (−16.7 to −6.6) | |
| Symptom severity scale score (range 0-12)*: | ||||||
| Week 12 | −1.0 (−1.8 to −0.2) | −1.7 (−2.5 to −0.9) | −1.1 (−1.8 to −0.3) | −1.4 (−2.2 to −0.6) | −0.7 (−1.3 to −0.1) | |
| Week 24 | −0.5 (−1.4 to 0.4) | −2.0 (−2.9 to −1.2) | −1.8 (−2.6 to −1.0) | −1.7 (−2.5 to −0.8) | −0.8 (−1.4 to −0.2) | |
| Week 52 | −1.0 (−1.9 to 0.0) | −2.5 (−3.5 to −1.6) | −1.4 (−2.3 to −0.6) | −1.8 (−2.8 to −0.9) | −1.1 (−1.8 to −0.4) | |
| Patient’s global assessment score (range 0-10)*: | ||||||
| Week 12 | −1.5 (−2.4 to −0.7) | −1.4 (−2.2 to −0.6) | −1.1 (−1.8 to −0.3) | −0.6 (−1.5 to 0.2) | −0.4 (−1.0 to 0.2) | |
| Week 24 | −1.0 (−1.8 to −0.1) | −1.3 (−2.2 to −0.5) | −1.6 (−2.4 to −0.8) | −2.0 (−2.8 to −1.2) | −0.4 (−1.0 to 0.2) | |
| Week 52 | −0.7 (−1.6 to 0.3) | −1.2 (−2.2 to −0.3) | −1.4 (−2.2 to −0.5) | −1.7 (−2.7 to −0.8) | −0.3 (−0.9 to 0.3) | |
| HADS scores (subscale range 0-21)*: | ||||||
| Depression: | ||||||
| Week 12 | −1.2 (−2.3 to-0.1) | −1.3 (−2.3 to-0.2) | −0.9 (−1.9 to 0.1) | −1.7 (−2.8 to 0.6) | −0.5 (−1.3 to 0.3) | |
| Week 24 | −0.7 (−2.0 to 0.6) | −0.7 (−2.0 to 0.5) | −1.4 (−2.6 to 0.3) | −2.7 (−4.1 to 1.4) | −0.6 (−1.5 to 0.4) | |
| Week 52 | −2.0 (−3.4 to 0.5) | −1.7 (−3.1 to 0.3) | −0.9 (−2.2 to 0.5) | −2.2 (−3.7 to 0.8) | −0.6 (−1.6 to 0.4) | |
| Anxiety: | ||||||
| Week 12 | −1.7 (−2.8 to −0.6) | −0.8 (−1.9 to 0.2) | −1.1 (−2.1 to −0.1) | −1.6 (−2.7 to −0.4) | 0.2 (−0.6 to 1.0) | |
| Week 24 | −1.9 (−3.2 to −0.7) | −0.8 (−2.0 to 0.4) | −1.4 (−2.5 to −0.2) | −2.1 (−3.4 to −0.8) | 0.0 (−0.9 to 0.9) | |
| Week 52 | −2.4 (−3.9 to −1.0) | −2.2 (−3.6 to −0.8) | −1.3 (−2.7 to 0.0) | −2.1 (−3.6 to −0.7) | −0.4 (−1.4 to 0.6) | |
| Beck depression inventory II score (range 0-63)*: | ||||||
| Week 12 | −6.0 (−9.7 to −2.2) | −5.8 (−9.4 to −2.1) | −3.7 (−7.1 to −0.3) | −7.4 (−11.1 to −3.6) | −3.9 (−6.5 to −1.3) | |
| Week 24 | −3.8 (−7.5 to −0.2) | −4.3 (−7.8 to −0.8) | −7.5 (−10.8 to −4.1) | −9.5 (−13.0 to −6.0) | −5.2 (−7.7 to −2.7) | |
| Week 52 | −7.6 (−11.8 to −3.4) | −7.5 (−11.7 to −3.3) | −5.5 (−9.4 to −1.6) | −11.1 (−15.2 to −6.9) | −6.4 (−9.3 to −3.5) | |
| Coping strategies questionnaire score (range 0-36)†: | ||||||
| Week 12 | −4.0 (−6.4 to −1.5) | −4.0 (−6.4 to −1.6) | −3.2 (−5.5 to −1.0) | −6.3 (−8.8 to −3.8) | −1.5 (−3.2 to 0.3) | |
| Week 24 | −4.7 (−7.2 to −2.2) | −4.1 (−6.5 to −1.6) | −3.9 (−6.3 to −1.6) | −6.8 (−9.5 to −4.2) | −1.6 (−3.4 to 0.2) | |
| Week 52 | −5.4 (−8.1 to −2.6) | −5.0 (−7.7 to −2.4) | −5.1 (−7.7 to −2.4) | −7.2 (−10.0 to −4.4) | −2.1 (−4.0 to −0.2) | |
| MOS social support survey score (range 0-5)†: | ||||||
| Week 12 | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.3) | 0.3 (0.1 to 0.6) | 0.0 (−0.2 to 0.3) | −0.1 (−0.3 to 0.2) | 0.0 (−0.1 to 0.2) | |
| Week 24 | 0.0 (−0.3 to 0.3) | 0.3 (0.0 to 0.6) | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.4) | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.4) | 0.1 (−0.1 to 0.3) | |
| Week 52 | 0.1 (−0.3 to 0.4) | 0.5 (0.1 to 0.8) | 0.3 (0.0 to 0.6) | 0.0 (−0.3 to 0.4) | 0.2 (0.0 to 0.5) | |
| Arthritis self efficacy scale score (range 1-10)†: | ||||||
| Week 12 | 1.0 (0.1 to 1.8) | 1.3 (0.5 to 2.1) | 0.3 (−0.5 to 1.1) | 1.1 (0.2 to 1.9) | −0.1 (−0.7 to 0.5) | |
| Week 24 | 0.8 (0.0 to 1.7) | 1.1 (0.3 to 1.9) | 1.5 (0.7 to 2.2) | 1.5 (0.6 to 2.3) | −0.1 (−0.7 to 0.5) | |
| Week 52 | 0.8 (−0.1 to 1.6) | 1.9 (1.1 to 2.8) | 1.2 (0.3 to 2.0) | 1.1 (0.2 to 2.0) | −0.1 (−0.7 to 0.5) | |
| Pittsburgh sleep quality index score (range, 0-21)*: | ||||||
| Week 12 | −1.0 (−2.2 to 0.2) | −1.1 (−2.3 to 0.1) | −0.6 (−1.7 to 0.5) | −1.6 (−2.8 to −0.4) | −0.9 (−1.7 to −0.1) | |
| Week 24 | −0.8 (−2.2 to 0.6) | −1.3 (−2.7 to 0.1) | −1.9 (−3.2 to −0.6) | −2.1 (−3.5 to −0.7) | −1.1 (−2.1 to −0.1) | |
| Week 52 | −2.6 (−4.2 to −1.1) | −2.2 (−3.8 to −0.7) | −1.1 (−2.6 to 0.4) | −2.0 (−3.6 to −0.4) | −1.2 (−2.3 to −0.1) | |
| SF-36 scores (range 0-100)†: | ||||||
| Mental component: | ||||||
| Week 12 | 4.5 (0.7 to 8.2) | 3.2 (−0.4 to 6.8) | 3.2 (−0.3 to 6.6) | 3.8 (0.0 to 7.6) | 0.6 (−2.1 to 3.3) | |
| Week 24 | 3.2 (−0.4 to 6.9) | 0.3 (−3.2 to 3.9) | 5.3 (1.9 to 8.7) | 7.4 (3.6 to 11.2) | 0.9 (−1.8 to 3.6) | |
| Week 52 | 5.4 (0.9 to 9.9) | 5.7 (1.4 to 10.0) | 3.8 (−0.5 to 8.0) | 5.4 (0.8 to 9.9) | 3.0 (−0.1 to 6.0) | |
| Physical component: | ||||||
| Week 12 | 3.9 (1.3 to 6.4) | 3.8 (1.4 to 6.2) | 1.9 (−0.4 to 4.2) | 3.3 (0.7 to 5.8) | 1.8 (−0.1 to 3.6) | |
| Week 24 | 2.4 (−0.4 to 5.2) | 3.9 (1.2 to 6.6) | 5.0(2.5 to 7.6) | 5.9 (3.1 to 8.8) | 4.0 (2.0 to 6.0) | |
| Week 52 | 4.5 (1.4 to 7.7) | 3.7 (0.6 to 6.7) | 6.9 (3.9 to 9.9) | 5.4 (2.2 to 8.6) | 2.6 (0.4 to 4.7) | |
| 6 minute walk test score (m): | ||||||
| Week 12 | 16.1 (−5.3 to 37.5) | 29.7 (9.2 to 50.3) | 16.0 (−3.7 to 35.7) | 7.4 (−14.8 to 29.6) | 9.3 (−6.1 to 24.8) | |
| Week 24 | 29.0 (7.4 to 50.6) | 31.6 (9.8 to 53.3) | 23.2 (2.6 to 43.7) | 17.7 (−5.1 to 40.4) | 18.0 (1.8 to 34.2) | |
| Week 52 | 23.8 (−7.0 to 54.6) | 7.0 (−22.4 to 36.3) | 34.9 (5.6 to 64.2) | 30.2 (−1.6 to 61.9) | 8.0 (−13.3 to 29.4) | |
| Body mass index: | ||||||
| Week 12 | 0.1 (−0.3 to 0.6) | −0.1 (−0.5 to 0.4) | −0.2 (−0.6 to 0.2) | 0.1 (−0.3 to 0.6) | −0.1 (−0.4 to 0.2) | |
| Week 24 | 0.3 (−0.3 to 0.8) | −0.1 (−0.6 to 0.4) | 0.1 (−0.4 to 0.6) | 0.3 (−0.3 to 0.8) | 0.1 (−0.3 to 0.5) | |
| Week 52 | 0.5 (−0.4. 1.4) | −0.2 (−1.1 to 0.6) | 0.1 (−0.8 to 0.9) | 0.6 (−0.3 to 1.5) | −0.2 (−0.8 to 0.4) | |
| Improved HAQ score (range 0-100)*: | ||||||
| Week 12 | −2.0 (−6.5 to 2.6) | −9.2 (−13.6 to −4.8) | −0.4 (−4.6 to 3.8) | −6.4 (−11.0 to −1.8) | −1.9 (−5.1 to 1.3) | |
| Week 24 | −2.5 (−7.6 to 2.6) | −3.1 (−8.3 to 2.1) | −3.9 (−8.6 to 0.9) | −6.7 (−12.0 to −1.3) | −4.1 (−7.8 to −0.5) | |
| Week 52 | −3.3 (−8.9 to 2.3) | −9.5 (−14.9 to −4.1) | −3.5 (−8.8 to 1.8) | −5.0 (−10.8 to 0.7) | −3.9 (−7.8 to 0.0) | |
| Outcome expectations scale score (range 1-5)†: | ||||||
| Week 12 | 0.2 (−0.2 to 0.5) | 0.1 (−0.3 to 0.4) | 0.2 (−0.1 to 0.5) | 0.4 (0.0 to 0.7) | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.3) | |
| Week 24 | 0.0 (−0.3 to 0.3) | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.4) | 0.2 (0.0 to 0.5) | 0.3 (0.0 to 0.6) | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.3) | |
| Week 52 | 0.0 (−0.3 to 0.3) | 0.2 (−0.1 to 0.5) | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.4) | 0.2 (−0.1 to 0.6) | 0.0 (−0.2 to 0.2) | |
FIQR=revised fibromyalgia impact questionnaire; HADS=hospital anxiety and depression scale; MOS=Medical Outcome Study; 36=short form 36 questionnaire; HAQ=health assessment questionnaire.
*
Higher scores reflect more severe symptoms.
†
Higher scores indicate better status.