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NEWS RELEASE

April 5, 2004
For immediate release

Contact:
Christa Dickey
cdickey@acsm.org

TAI CHI TRAINING IMPROVES BALANCE CONTROL IN ELDERLY
Older Adults Prone to Falls Benefit from Ancient Chinese Exercise

INDIANAPOLIS – Tai Chi is a successful falls-prevention strategy for elderly people, according to results of a study published in the April 2004 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise®, the official scientific journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The exercise, which incorporates movements inspired by martial arts, can help the growing population of elderly people sustain and improve their balance control, thus making them less likely to experience debilitating falls.

The study enrolled 49 elderly people currently living in community homes. None of the subjects had previous experience practicing Tai Chi, although each was able to live independently and without the use of walking aids. Part of the group enrolled in a Tai Chi intervention program, while a control group voluntarily underwent a health awareness educational program. A third group of experienced Tai Chi practitioners was later involved for comparison to participants.

The Tai Chi group trained for eight weeks, utilizing the Ng style which involves variations of many head and neck rotations, constant weight shifting with different arm movements, changes in the base of support from double- to single-leg standing, and fixation of the eyes on the hand. Researchers measured individual balance by assessing each member’s stimuli and equilibrium factors during a sway movement test. The elderly subjects stood on a support platform in a safety harness to prevent falling while researchers assessed their ability to: 1) control body sway under different sensory conditions and 2) shift their weight in different directions while maintaining balance and position stability. Each sensory condition and target position was computerized and analyzed with dynamic posturography equipment. These data indicated balance patterns and limitations for those beginning Tai Chi training and those in the educational program.

Results after four, and then again at eight weeks of training, showed the Tai Chi exercise group performed significantly better than the control group during balance tests. Further, researchers found the Tai Chi beginners to have similar balance control when compared to the experienced practitioners as early as four weeks into the program. This finding suggests a month of intensive Tai Chi training was sufficient to significantly improve balance control of the elderly subjects.

“As we age, the sensory systems within our bodies responsible for balance control begin to degenerate,” said Christina W.Y. Hui-Chan, Ph.D., lead author of the study. “Tai Chi is a low impact way for elderly people to regain and maintain stability, and our results show benefits in a relatively short amount of time. That’s good news for a growing population of older adults prone to losing their balance and potentially falling.”

The study points out existing research on Tai Chi training in elderly people reduced the risk of multiple falls by more than 47 percent. Improved balance control, experts say, reduces the fear of falling, often a leading obstacle to physical activity for this population.

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 20,000 International, National, and Regional members are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.

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NOTE: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise® is the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, and is available from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins at 1-800-638-6423. For a complete copy of the research paper (Vol. 36, No. 4, pages 648–657 or to speak with a leading sports medicine expert on the topic, contact the Department of Communications and Public Information at 317-637-9200 ext. 127 or 117. Visit ACSM online at www.acsm.org.

The conclusions outlined in this news release are those of the researchers only, and should not be construed as an official statement of the American College of Sports Medicine.