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

Table 3 Mean difference of health-related musculoskeletal fitness measures, SF 36 physical scales and summary measure

	Combined cohorts Cohen’s D	P	Cohort 1 Cohen’s D	P	Cohort 2 Cohen’s D	P	Cohort 3 Cohen’s D	P
Anthropometric measures
Body Mass Index (kg/m²)	-0.048	.450	0.100	.906	-0.273	.004	-0.778	.002
Upper body musculoskeletal measures
Overall Grip Strength (kg)	0.312	<0.001	0.420	.002	0.188	.262	0.298	.133
Arm Curl Test in 30 Seconds (#)	0.673	<0.001	0.895	<0.001	0.661	<0.001	0.404	.034
Lower body musculoskeletal measures
Chair Stand Test in 30 Seconds (#)	0.717	<0.001	0.957	<0.001	0.790	<0.001	0.676	.001
Timed 8-Foot Up & Go Test (secs)	-0.300	.001	-0.214	.321	-0.533	<0.001	-0.231	.047
Low back flexibility measures
Sit & Reach (cm)	0.268	.004	0.155	.315	0.188	.167	0.575	.009
SF 36 physical scales
Physical Functioning (PF)	0.326	<0.001	0.355	.006	0.326	.004	0.276	.180
Role Physical (RP)	0.037	.663	-0.069	.696	0.004	.918	0.368	.046
Bodily Pain (BP)	0.047	.587	-0.087	.557	0.051	.655	0.300	.069
General Health (GH)	0.241	.005	0.252	<0.001	0.209	<0.001	0.284	<0.001
SF 36 physical summary measure
Physical Health (PCS)	0.192	.033	0.067	.582	0.209	.025	0.487	.055

Cohen’s D: mean difference calculated as post measure minus pre measure divided by standard deviation.
Note: # designates repetitions completed.

ISSN: 1471-2318