The effect of Tai Chi lower extremity exercise on the balance control of older adults in assistant living communities
Abstract Background Although Tai Chi (TC) is an evidence-based fall prevention training for older adults, its effective movements remain unclear, which may limit the practice of TC. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of TC lower extremity exercise (TC LEE), the 8-form Tai Chi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-024-04382-9 |
| _version_ | 1797266936615141376 |
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| author | Min Mao Vicki S. Mercer Fuzhong Li Michael T. Gross Troy Blackburn Bing Yu |
| author_facet | Min Mao Vicki S. Mercer Fuzhong Li Michael T. Gross Troy Blackburn Bing Yu |
| author_sort | Min Mao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although Tai Chi (TC) is an evidence-based fall prevention training for older adults, its effective movements remain unclear, which may limit the practice of TC. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of TC lower extremity exercise (TC LEE), the 8-form Tai Chi (8-form TC), and a stretching control intervention for improving balance and functional mobility among older adults. Methods This was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 102 participants (79 ± 6 years old) were recruited from assisted living facilities. All participants were randomly assigned to the TC LEE (n = 40), 8-form TC (n = 31), and stretching (n = 31) groups in which they received the respective interventions for 16 weeks. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and center of pressure (COP) measurements during quiet stance were collected prior to and following the 16-week interventions. Comparisons on all measurements were conducted among all groups. Results Significant improvements were found in BBS (P = 0.002), TUG test (P = 0.001), root mean square amplitude of COP displacement in the anterior–posterior (P = 0.001) and medial–lateral (P = 0.001) directions, and average COP speed in the anterior–posterior (P = 0.001) and medial–lateral (P = 0.001) directions after training in the TC intervention groups compared with the stretching group. The upper limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of differences in change scores on the BBS (-0.8 – 1.3 points) between the TC LEE group and the 8-form TC group was within equivalence margins (1.8 points), while the upper limit of the 95% CI of differences in change scores on the TUG test (0.1 – 2.1 s) exceeded the equivalence margin (0.7 s) with the TC LEE group having the larger change scores. Conclusion TC LEE can improve balance and functional mobility in older adults, and may have greater effect than the 8-form TC on improving functional mobility as measured by the TUG test. Trial registration ChiCTR2300070600 retrospectively registered. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:08:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b6d5abc0ef064102accead827b109dd5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-7671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:08:37Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies |
| spelling | doaj.art-b6d5abc0ef064102accead827b109dd52024-03-10T12:05:39ZengBMCBMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies2662-76712024-03-0124111210.1186/s12906-024-04382-9The effect of Tai Chi lower extremity exercise on the balance control of older adults in assistant living communitiesMin Mao0Vicki S. Mercer1Fuzhong Li2Michael T. Gross3Troy Blackburn4Bing Yu5Division of Physical Therapy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDivision of Physical Therapy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillOregon Research InstituteDivision of Physical Therapy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDepartment of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDivision of Physical Therapy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillAbstract Background Although Tai Chi (TC) is an evidence-based fall prevention training for older adults, its effective movements remain unclear, which may limit the practice of TC. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of TC lower extremity exercise (TC LEE), the 8-form Tai Chi (8-form TC), and a stretching control intervention for improving balance and functional mobility among older adults. Methods This was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 102 participants (79 ± 6 years old) were recruited from assisted living facilities. All participants were randomly assigned to the TC LEE (n = 40), 8-form TC (n = 31), and stretching (n = 31) groups in which they received the respective interventions for 16 weeks. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and center of pressure (COP) measurements during quiet stance were collected prior to and following the 16-week interventions. Comparisons on all measurements were conducted among all groups. Results Significant improvements were found in BBS (P = 0.002), TUG test (P = 0.001), root mean square amplitude of COP displacement in the anterior–posterior (P = 0.001) and medial–lateral (P = 0.001) directions, and average COP speed in the anterior–posterior (P = 0.001) and medial–lateral (P = 0.001) directions after training in the TC intervention groups compared with the stretching group. The upper limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of differences in change scores on the BBS (-0.8 – 1.3 points) between the TC LEE group and the 8-form TC group was within equivalence margins (1.8 points), while the upper limit of the 95% CI of differences in change scores on the TUG test (0.1 – 2.1 s) exceeded the equivalence margin (0.7 s) with the TC LEE group having the larger change scores. Conclusion TC LEE can improve balance and functional mobility in older adults, and may have greater effect than the 8-form TC on improving functional mobility as measured by the TUG test. Trial registration ChiCTR2300070600 retrospectively registered.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-024-04382-9Postural balancePhysical functional performanceAgedTai Ji |
| spellingShingle | Min Mao Vicki S. Mercer Fuzhong Li Michael T. Gross Troy Blackburn Bing Yu The effect of Tai Chi lower extremity exercise on the balance control of older adults in assistant living communities BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Postural balance Physical functional performance Aged Tai Ji |
| title | The effect of Tai Chi lower extremity exercise on the balance control of older adults in assistant living communities |
| title_full | The effect of Tai Chi lower extremity exercise on the balance control of older adults in assistant living communities |
| title_fullStr | The effect of Tai Chi lower extremity exercise on the balance control of older adults in assistant living communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of Tai Chi lower extremity exercise on the balance control of older adults in assistant living communities |
| title_short | The effect of Tai Chi lower extremity exercise on the balance control of older adults in assistant living communities |
| title_sort | effect of tai chi lower extremity exercise on the balance control of older adults in assistant living communities |
| topic | Postural balance Physical functional performance Aged Tai Ji |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-024-04382-9 |
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