A Tai Chi Chuan Training Model to Improve Balance Control in Older Adults

Age-related reduction in musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and central nervous system resilience can result in wide-ranging limitations in adaptive capacity associated with negative outcomes such as cognitive decline, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, mobility problems, and increased incidence of debilitating falls. This article reviews the benefits of both cognitive and physical activity within the broad context of multiple system resilience in adult aging. Research on a unique form of combined physical/cognitive exercise, Tai Chi Chuan, is presented. The relationship between physiological and psychological gain associated with an activity intervention program is discussed in light of principles of rehabilitation, intervention compliance, subjective and objective gain, and the hypothesized value of combining physical exercise, cognitive exercise, and relaxation into a single program designed to promote resilience in older adults.

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The effects of practicing sitting Tai Chi on balance control and eye-hand coordination in the older adults: a randomized controlled trial

Disability and Rehabilitation ◽

10.3109/09638288.2014.942003 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 37 (9) ◽

pp. 790-794 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Ken Y. T. Lee ◽

Christina W. Y. Hui-Chan ◽

William W. N. Tsang

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Tai Chi ◽

Balance Control ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Hand Coordination

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Home-based Tai Chi Chuan May Reduce Fall Rate Compared to Lower Extremity Exercise Training in Older Adults with History of Falls

EXPLORE ◽

10.1016/j.explore.2016.10.015 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 79-80

Author(s):

Richard Glickman-Simon

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Exercise Training ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Tai Chi ◽

Fall Rate ◽

Tai Chi Chuan ◽

Home Based ◽

History Of

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Determining Whether Tai Chi Chuan is Related to the Updating Function in Older Adults: Differences Between Experts and Novices

10.21203/rs.3.rs-783067/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yuan Yang ◽

Tingting Chen ◽

Xiaoxia Yuan ◽

Xiaoke Zhong ◽

Shoufu Yan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Tai Chi ◽

The Elderly ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Tai Chi Chuan ◽

Novice Group ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Back Task

Abstract Background: Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is one effective method used to delay cognitive decline in older adults. However, the relationship between the long-term practice of TCC and the crucial working memory updating function of the brain in the elderly has not been comprehensively researched.Objective: This cross-sectional study explores how behavioral performance in a laboratory setting is related to long term practice of TCC on the updating function in older people using reaction times (RTs) of N-back tasks. Methods: 26 healthy elderly people participated in this experiment. According to the length of time TCC was practiced, 13 subjects in the TCC group had more than 5 years’ experience of TCC exercise, and 13 elderly subjects who had not been systematically exposed to mind-body exercise were assigned to the novice group. The N-back task was administered to every participant to evaluate the updating function. Results: The TCC group had faster RTs compared to the novice group (p<0.05); For the 1-back task, the TCC group showed faster RTs than the novice group. For the 2-back task, the novice group exhibited faster RTs than the TCC group. Conclusions: TCC experts exhibit greater updating function as compared to TCC novices. Long-term TCC appears to be positive associated with the updating function of older adults, making it an effective exercise to maintain cognitive function in the elderly.

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