the Effects of Individualized Tai Chi Training on Balance Control in Elderly

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Traditional Tai Chi is too complex for most elderly individuals. There have been few reports regarding the development of simplified Tai Chi programs to suit the physical needs of elderly adults. However, these programs were not individualized according to the participants' balance control abilities.The investigators already developed an individualized Tai Chi program. This objective of the study was to investigate the effect of individualized Tai Chi training.

Detailed Description
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Background: Balance control is an important skill for human to maintain a myriad of postures and activities. The elderly suffering from balance impairment by aging have high rate to increase fall-related injuries, restricted activities, declined physical functions, and decrease quality of life. Tai Chi (TC) has been demonstrated as an innovative way to promote balance function, which is a suitable exercise for older people because of its slow movement, changeable base of supports, multi-directions weight shifting and less impact on lower extremities. Recent systematic reviews have shown that TC exercises have significant benefits in improving balance control, but most of them are only connected with healthy elderlies. Actually, the long standing time and training duration, challenged recollection by its sequence forms, and complex coordination for upper and lower extremities of TC usually make it difficult to practice for some elderlies with poor physical functions. Therefore, the method of individualized TC exercise program, integrated with biomechanical analyses, is developed in this research. It can afford an easier and more applicable training for elderly to improve the balance abilities. Purposes:To evaluate the effects of individualized Tai Chi training on balance control in elderly. Methods: This research is a quasi-experimental design and prospective study. Participants were recruited and assigned into individualized TC, entire TC group and home-based education group

Official Title
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the Effects of Individualized Tai Chi Training on Balance Control in Elderly

Conditions
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Tai Ji

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: individualized Tai Chi
* Other: Entire Tai Chi
* Other: home-based program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Participants in the study were community-dwelling volunteers aged over 65 years. Participants were ambulatory and did not Exclusion Criteria: have any history of diagnosed central nervous system vestibular pathology cognitive impairment visual deficit fracture of lower limb in recent 6 months with Tai Chi practice experience for more than 2 months. severe hearing impairment to follow instruction

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: individualized Tai Chi<br>patient received individualized Tai Chi program training. | Other: individualized Tai Chi<br>* individualized Tai Chi training exercise<br>|
| Active Comparator: Entire Tai Chi<br>patient received Entire Tai Chi program training. | Other: Entire Tai Chi<br>* the classical Yang style Tai Chi program<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: home-based program<br>patient received home-based program training. | Other: home-based program<br>* Home-based exercise<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time Up and Go | is a simple test used to assess a person's mobility and requires both static and dynamic balance | 8 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Berg balance scale | The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was developed to measure balance among older people with impairment in balance function by assessing the performance of functional tasks. 1 The scale consists of 14 items, scored from 0 to 4, which are added to make a total score between 0 and 56; a higher score indicates better balance. | 8 weeks | 
| functional reach | The Functional Reach Test is a quick and simple, single-task dynamic test that defines functional reach as. the maximal distance one can reach forward beyond arm's length, while maintaining a fixed base of support in the standing position | 8 weeks | 
| muscle strength of hip flexor and extensor | muscle strength of hip flexor and extensor by dynamometer | 8 weeks | 
| muscle strength of hip abductor and adductor | muscle strength of hip abductor and adductor by dynamometer | 8 weeks | 
| muscle strength of knee flexor and extensor | muscle strength of knee flexor and extensor by dynamometer | 8 weeks | 
| muscle strength of ankle dorsiflexor and plantarflexor | muscle strength of ankle dorsiflexor and plantarflexor by dynamometer | 8 weeks |