This study used a randomized, two-group, repeated-measures design to evaluate the effects of a 24-week Tai Chi exercise program in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.
Eligible participants were adults aged 20 years or older who had undergone colorectal cancer surgery for the first time and were scheduled to receive six months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Participants were randomly assigned to the Tai Chi exercise group or the usual-care control group using a computer-generated random-number procedure.
Participants assigned to the intervention group received usual care and participated in a 24-week Tai Chi exercise program. They were instructed to complete at least 150 minutes of Tai Chi exercise per week. The exercise could be completed in one or multiple sessions according to the participant's physical condition and treatment schedule. Participants received an instructional video and manual, recorded their daily exercise duration, and were contacted weekly by telephone to assess adherence and address difficulties encountered during exercise.
Participants assigned to the control group received usual care during adjuvant chemotherapy and did not receive the structured Tai Chi exercise program.
Study outcomes included upper- and lower-extremity muscle strength, static and dynamic balance, fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and quality of life. Assessments were conducted before the first adjuvant chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment.
A total of 60 participants were enrolled, including 31 participants assigned to the Tai Chi exercise group and 29 assigned to the usual-care control group. Fifty-three participants completed the study assessments.
