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Table 2 Baseline health-related musculoskeletal fitness characteristics and SF 36 physical scales and physical summary measure of study participants

From: Effect of tai chi on musculoskeletal health-related fitness and self-reported physical health changes in low income, multiple ethnicity mid to older adults

Ā 

Combined cohorts mean (SD)

Cohort 1 mean (SD)

Cohort 2 mean (SD)

Cohort 3 mean (SD)

P

Anthropometric measures

Body Mass Index (kg/m2)

26.7 (4.8)

28.3 (4.8)

24.3 (3.7)

28.2 (5.2)

<0.001

Upper body musculoskeletal measures

Overall Grip Strength (kg)

54.3 (17.7)

46.8 (16.8)

59.8 (16.5)

57.7 (16.8)

<0.001

Arm Curl Test in 30 Seconds (#)

15.5 (5.4)

11.9 (4.0)

17.9 (4.4)

17.6 (5.9)

<0.001

Lower body musculoskeletal measures

Chair Stand Test in 30 Seconds (#)

12.2 (4.1)

10.0 (3.1)

13.9 (4.1)

13.2 (3.8)

<0.001

Timed 8-Foot Up and Go (secs)

7.6 (3.2)

8.8 (4.2)

6.4 (1.7)

7.8 (2.2)

<0.001

Low back flexibility measures

Sit and Reach (cm)

26.4 (9.1)

25.3 (8.2)

26.2 (9.6)

28.7 (9.1)

.141

SF 36 physical scales

Physical Functioning (PF)

75.0 (21.6)

67.2 (23.8)

80.9 (16.4)

78.0 (22.1)

<0.001

Role-Physical (RP)

80.9 (25.6)

74.4 (29.5)

87.0 (21.1)

81.8 (23.1)

.009

Bodily Pain (BP)

68.7 (24.8)

62.8 (27.2)

74.1 (22.7)

69.4 (22.2)

.017

General Health (GH)

64.8 (20.5)

64.9 (21.1)

60.5 (20.2)

71.7 (18.3)

.012

SF 36 physical summary measure

Physical Health (PCS)

49.2 (7.9)

46.9 (8.8)

50.7 (5.9)

50.3 (8.6)

.009

  1. Note: # designates repetitions completed.