Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Tai Chi Chuan on static and dynamic balance, and functional fitness in older adults. Forty-nine volunteers were divided into an exercise group (EX: 9 men and 16 women, average age 72 ± 5 years) and control group (13 men and 11 women, average age 73 ± 6 years). The EX participated in a 12-week supervised exercise program (60 min/day, 2 days/week) that consisted of 10-min warm-up and stretching, 40-min Tai Chi Chuan exercise (long-form Yang style with 108 movements), and 10-min cool-down/relaxation exercises. The control group was asked to not change their physical activity habits. Static (sway velocity standing on firm or foam surfaces with eyes open or closed) and dynamic balance (limits of stability (LOS)), as well as functional fitness measures of body mass; upper- and lower-body strength; and flexibility, mobility, and aerobic fitness were taken before and after the intervention. After the 12-week Tai Chi Chuan exercise program, there were no improvements in any functional fitness or balance variable although components of LOS tended to increase (13.1%, p = 0.052). These results indicate that 12 weeks of Tai Chi Chuan exercise has no significant effect on balance and functional fitness parameters in older Japanese adults.
Highlights
The prevention of falls and the subsequent morbidity associated with fall-related injuries is important to preserve health and independence among older women
The exercise group (EX) participated in a 12-week supervised exercise program (60 min/day, 2 days/week) that consisted of 10-min warm-up and stretching, 40-min Tai Chi Chuan exercise, and 10-min cool-down/relaxation exercises
Significant differences were noted in arm curl test (AC), chair stand test (CS), and DCL between groups so the influence of the initial level of these parameters was examined using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)
Summary
The prevention of falls and the subsequent morbidity associated with fall-related injuries is important to preserve health and independence among older women. In many cases, reduced balance control is a primary risk factor for falls [1]. Reducing fall risk in older people will avoid increasing health care costs [3]. Little is known about the effects of various types of balance training in the older adult population. It has been reported that exercise reduces the risk of falls in older adults whose muscle strength has significantly deteriorated [4]. Our previous report [5] found that a customized balance exercise program is effective in improving balance and lower body strength in older adults.
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