Community-based Tai Chi, Balance, and Fall Risk

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Status: Completed

Conditions: Proprioceptive Disorders; Postural Balance; Fall

Treatments: Behavioral: tai chi

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04173936

1373542-1

Details and patient eligibility

About

Aims: Examine the effects of a community Tai Chi program on measures of balance and sensorimotor function.

Methods: In a pre-test and post-test design, balance was measured in older adults (N=344; 73.4±7.4 years) with 30-second chair stand, timed-up and go, and 4-stage balance test following a 12-week community-based tai chi intervention. Balance measures and additional sensorimotor measures, including hip abductor electromechanical delay and hip proprioception, were measured in a smaller sample of older adults (n=11; 67.3±3.7 years).

Enrollment: 405 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60 to 95 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• age 60 years or older
• ability to independently ambulate
• self-described concern with stability and/or mobility.

Exclusion criteria

• Neurological diagnosis
• Participants body weight exceeds >450 pounds).

Trial design

405 participants in 1 patient group

Tai Chi

Description:

All participants enrolled in a 12 week community-based tai chi program.

Treatment:

Behavioral: tai chi