Studies have demonstrated that gene...

Studies have demonstrated that general exercise programs and balance-oriented exercises convert into the risk of falling in older adults by means of 10 percent and 17 percent respectively. Endurance, resistance, and flexibility training have not shown a significant general intent on the risk of falling in the robust somewhat old Tai chi, or tai chi chuan, consists of dead rhythmic movements that emphasize bole rotation, weight shifting, coordination, and a gradual narrowing of lower extremity stance. Wolf and colleagues compared an intense tai chi exercise program with a wellness education program forward fall occurrences in an somewhat advanced in life population who met the criteria for transitional frailty.

Participants 70 years or older residing in the same of 20 congregate living facilities were randomized to a tai chi assign places to or wellness education group. Wellness education consisted of instructions about fall prevention, exercise and balance, diet and nutrition, and related behavioral and mental health issues.

Fall ends were the primary outcome measure for this prospective, single-blind, randomized research as measured by self-report. Functional measurements were performed at four-month intervals, as were assessments of fear of falling, quality of life, depression, and cognitive impairment.

The trial lasted 48 weeks and included 311 ones of which 24 withdrew immediately after randomization for a variety of reasons. The relative risk for falls with tai chi compared with wellness education was 075 a rate that was not statistically significant given the power of the contemplation Almost one half of the participants did not fall at all during the reflection period. In persons with previous fractures caused by means of falling, the rate of falling in the tai chi clump was slightly higher than it was in the wellness education cluster but this difference did not reach statistical significance. Those without previous fall fractures had a significantly lower rate of falling in the tai chi cluster than in the wellness education cluster The tai chi group had a significantly lower risk of falling in a pillar hoc analysis limited to month 5 between the sides of 12 of the study period.

The authors judge that 48 weeks of tai chi springs in no statistically significant reduction in falls compared with wellness education. Given the station hoc analysis, it is conception that tai chi does not begin to present to view a significant reduction in the risk of falling until after a number of month of regular participation. Fewer falls were observ in a subset of patients doing tai chi who had no history of fall fracture.

CAROLINE WELLBERY, MD

Wolf SL et al. Intense tai chi exercise training and fall transactions in older, transitionally frail adults: a randomized, controll trial. J Am Geriatr Soc December 2003;51:1693-701

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

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