Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on the elderly balance: a semi-experimental study

Pablo Rafael Konig,Fábio Juner Lanferdini,Natália Batista Albuquerque Goulart,Caroline Pieta Dias,Carlos Leandro Tiggeman,Eveline Galarza

doi:10.1590/s1809-98232014000200014

Pablo Rafael Konig, Fábio Juner Lanferdini + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1809-98232014000200014

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Abstract

Aging impairs the functional capacity, possibly compromising the balance over the years. However, Tai Chi Chuan is a martial art that can provide balance improvements in elderly people. This study aimed to evaluate balance in elderly after three and six months of Tai Chi Chuan practicing. Participants were 27 individuals (62±4.4 years) who underwent Tai Chi Chuan training (one hour each) twice a week, for six months. Balance was assessed by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Romberg test, all evaluated before and after three and six months of practicing. MANOVA for repeated measures was used to compare times in TUG and BBS tests. The Cochrane Q test was used to compare moments and frequencies in the Romberg test (α=0.05). Results showed significant improvement in TUG performance (p≤0.01), BBS score (p≤0.01) and in the Romberg test (p≤0.01) after three and six months, compared with pre-training. These results suggest that Tai Chi Chuan practice can improve the balance in elderly people.

Highlights

Balance is directly related to the quality of life, and its magnitude is directly related to the prevalence of falls,[1] that can generate more complex injuries involving joints such as ankle, knee, hip, spine and upper limbs.[2]
The results showed that Tai Chi Chuan training has significantly improved the balance of the elderly people who participated in this study
Our study found an improvement in the balance of elderly people after starting the practice of Tai Chi Chuan

Summary

Introduction

Balance is directly related to the quality of life, and its magnitude is directly related to the prevalence of falls,[1] that can generate more complex injuries involving joints such as ankle, knee, hip, spine and upper limbs.[2] It is well known that aging impairs balance over the years, by affecting a number of factors, such as neural, cognitive and/or reduction in physical activity.[3] the more advanced the age, the less physically active are elderly people, impairing the maintenance of balance.[4]. According to Oinuma et al.,[5] falling is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among elderly people. According to Nickens[6] and Perry,[7] about 50% of people who suffered a fall, fracturing the hip joint, will possibly find difficult in performing the walking movement functionally again. Women fall more frequently than men, mainly due to hormonal changes after menopause.[8]

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