A Randomized, Controlled Trial of tai chi for the Prevention of Falls: The Central Sydney tai chi Trial

doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01244.x

If you are seeing this message, you may be experiencing temporary network problems. Please wait a few minutes and refresh the page. If the problem persists, you may wish to report it to your local Network Manager.

It is also possible that your web browser is not configured or not able to display style sheets. In this case, although the visual presentation will be degraded, the site should continue to be functional. We recommend using the latest version of Microsoft or Mozilla web browser to help minimise these problems.

Wiley InterScience

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

Volume 55 Issue 8, Pages 1185 - 1191

Published Online: 7 Jun 2007

Journal compilation 2010 The American Geriatrics Society/Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Published on behalf of

Go to Society Site

< Previous Abstract | Next Abstract >

Save Article to My Profile Download Citation Request Permissions

Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML, PDF (Size: 97K) | Related Articles | Citation Tracking

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of tai chi for the Prevention of Falls: The Central Sydney tai chi Trial

Alexander Voukelatos, MA (Psychol) ^* , Robert G. Cumming, PhD ^†‡ , Stephen R. Lord, DSc ^§ , and Chris Rissel, PhD ^*†

From the ^*Health Promotion Service, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Sydney, Australia; ^†School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; ^‡Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, Sydney, Australia; ^§Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Address correspondence to Robert G Cumming, Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital (Building 18), Concord NSW 2139, Australia. E-mail: bobc@health.usyd.edu.au

Presented at the 13th Meeting of the Australasian Epidemiological Association, Adelaide, Australia, 2004.

KEYWORDS

falls • balance • tai chi • community-based

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of a 16-week community-based tai chi program in reducing falls and improving balance in people aged 60 and older.

DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial with waiting list control group.

SETTING: Community in Sydney, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred two relatively healthy community-dwelling people aged 60 and older (mean age 69).

INTERVENTION: Sixteen-week program of community-based tai chi classes of 1 hour duration per week.

MEASUREMENTS: Falls during 16 and 24 weeks of follow-up were assessed using a calendar method. Balance was measured at baseline and 16-week follow-up using six balance tests.

RESULTS: Falls were less frequent in the tai chi group than in the control group. Using Cox regression and time to first fall, the hazard ratio after 16 weeks was 0.72 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.51–1.01, P=.06), and after 24 weeks it was 0.67 (95% CI=0.49–0.93, P=.02). There was no difference in the percentage of participants who had one or more falls. There were statistically significant differences in changes in balance favoring the tai chi group on five of six balance tests.

CONCLUSION: Participation in once per week tai chi classes for 16 weeks can prevent falls in relatively healthy community-dwelling older people.

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01244.x About DOI