The Effects of Group-Based versus Individual-Based Tai Chi Training on Nonmotor Symptoms in Patients with Mild to Moderate Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

Objective: To compare the effects of group-based and individual-based Tai Chi training on nonmotor symptoms in patients with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease.

Design: Randomized controlled pilot study.

Methods: 36 community-dwelling patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) were randomly assigned to either group-based training group ( = 19) or individual-based group ( = 17). Both groups received same content of Tai Chi training 3 times a week for 13 weeks. Participants were also asked to perform home exercises daily. The Non-Motor Symptoms Scale was used to assess global nonmotor symptoms change. Sleep quality, depression, and cognition were evaluated by Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale, and Beijing version-Montreal Cognitive Assessment, respectively. Home exercise compliance was recorded.

Results: There was no significant difference between two groups at baseline. After 13 weeks, there were no statistical significance between two groups. However, the within-group effect was different. Participants in group-based and individual-based groups showed a significant improvement on global nonmotor symptoms ( < 0.001, = 0.004) and sleep ( < 0.001, < 0.001). But only group-based training patients presented a significant improvement in cognitive impairment compared with baseline ( = 0.002, - 0.116). For depression, no group gained a significant improvement( = 0.123, = 0.170). Group-based participants had a higher home-exercise compliance rate (HeCR) than individual-based participants did ( = 0.019), and HeCR showed a moderate correlation with MoCA-BJ and NMSS scores changes in this study.

Conclusion: Group-based Tai Chi training is considered to be a more effective and a more labor-saving method in the clinical settings, and patients tend to have a higher compliance rate in their home exercise program. This study is registered with ChiCTR-IPR-17010388.