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VICUS.COM (18 April 2000) -- Tai chi, a Chinese martial art,
emphasizes complete relaxation and is essentially a form of
meditation, or what has been called "meditation in motion."
Unlike the hard martial arts, tai chi is characterized by soft, slow,
flowing movements that emphasize force rather than brute strength. It
is practiced primarily for its health benefits, including exercise and
increased flexibility, as well as for its positive effects on stress
and tension.
Tai chi chuan exercise also has been shown to reduce the risk of
falls in the elderly. Now, a study from the Chinese University of Hong
Kong (Hong, et al., 2000) reports that tai chi promotes better
control of balance and improves flexibility and cardiovascular fitness
in older adults.
Study review
Several indicators were compared in two groups of men in their
mid-60s, including resting heart rate, left and right single-leg
stance with eyes closed, modified sit and reach and total body
rotation (left and right); the results of a three-minute step test
also were compared. The first group included 28 men with an average of
13 years of tai chi experience. The control group included 30
sedentary men.
The men who practiced tai chi had significantly better scores in
resting heart rate, three-minute step test heart rate, modified sit
and reach, total body rotation test on both right and left side (P
< 0.01). They were also better at the right and left leg standing
with eyes closed position (P < 0.05). In fact, based on the
American Fitness Standards, the tai chi group ranked in the 90th
percentile for sit and reach, as well as for total body rotation test,
right and left.
Comment
This is one more example of the benefits that can be achieved by a
commitment to modest physical activity, in this case, tai chi. The
results reported in these men who had more than a decade of experience
in tai chi complement other studies of novice tai chi practitioners.
For example, a researcher from the University of Houston (Yan, 1999)
recently reported that eight weeks of tai chi practice lead to
improved arm movement in a study group of older men (average age was
79), compared with walking or jogging. The researchers concluded that
tai chi practice might serve as a better, real-world exercise for
older adults.
Another study in elderly women showed significant improvement (P =
.05) in trait anxiety and pain perception (Ross, et al., 1999).
In addition, a study of more than 1,000 seniors sponsored by the
National Institute on Aging found that between 10 and 36 weeks of tai
chi was associated with a 25% decrease in injuries from falls during
the next two to four years. In fact, it was the only activity
associated with a statistically significant decrease in the number of
falls among elderly participants (Province, et al., 1995).
These findings have important implications for senior citizens and
tai chi instructors. For seniors, tai chi can be a valuable activity
to help maintain their physical activity, while reducing the risk of
injuries in daily life. For tai chi instructors, the elderly are a
poorly tapped market that can help expand their practice. However,
success will be achieved by understanding the goals of the elderly and
modifying tai chi to meet their needs and abilities.
John
Russo, Jr., PharmD, is senior vice president of medical
communications at Vicus.com. He is a pharmacist and medical writer
with more than 20 years of experience in medical education.
References:
Hong Y, Li JX, Robinson PD. Balance control, flexibility, and
cardiorespiratory fitness among older Tai Chi practitioners. Br J
Sports Med. 2000 Feb; 34(1):29-34.
Province MA, Hadley EC, Hornbrook MC, et al. The effects of
exercise on falls in elderly patients. A preplanned meta-analysis of
the FICSIT Trials. Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative Studies of
Intervention Techniques. JAMA. 1995 May 3; 273(17):1341-7.
Ross MC, Bohannon AS, Davis DC, et al. The effects of a
short-term exercise program on movement, pain, and mood in the
elderly. Results of a pilot study. J Holist Nurs. 1999 Jun;
17(2):139-47.
Yan JH. Tai chi practice reduces movement force variability for
seniors. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1999 Dec;
54(12):M629-34.
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