Community-based Tai Chi, Balance, and Fall Risk

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Aims: Examine the effects of a community Tai Chi program on measures of balance and sensorimotor function. Methods: In a pre-test and post-test design, balance was measured in older adults (N=344; 73.4±7.4 years) with 30-second chair stand, timed-up and go, and 4-stage balance test following a 12-week community-based tai chi intervention. Balance measures and additional sensorimotor measures, including hip abductor electromechanical delay and hip proprioception, were measured in a smaller sample of older adults (n=11; 67.3±3.7 years).

Official Title
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Effects of a Community-based Tai Chi Program on Balance, Functional Outcomes, and Sensorimotor Function in Older Adults

Conditions
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Proprioceptive Disorders, Postural Balance, Fall

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: tai chi


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: age 60 years or older ability to independently ambulate self-described concern with stability and/or mobility. Exclusion Criteria: Neurological diagnosis Participants body weight exceeds >450 pounds).

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 60 Years
Maximum Age: 95 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Tai Chi<br>All participants enrolled in a 12 week community-based tai chi program. | Behavioral: tai chi<br>* 12-week community-based tai chi program<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 30-second chair number | The number of times a person can stand up and sit down from a chair in 30 seconds | 12 weeks | 
| Timed Up and Go | The time (in seconds) for a person to stand from a chair, walk 10 feet, turn 180 degrees and return to sit in the chair | 12 weeks | 
| 4 stage balance test | How long (in seconds) can a person stand with feet together, stand with one foot forward and to the side, stand in tandem (one foot immediately in front of the other, and stand on one foot | 12 weeks | 
| Hip abductor muscle contraction time | Hip abductor muscle contraction speed as measured as the time (in milliseconds) between the onset of electromyography signal and torque onset from hip muscle abduction | 12 weeks | 
| Brief-Balance Evaluation System Test | The bBESTest is an 8-item, clinically-based assessment measuring anticipatory postural adjustments, compensatory postural responses, sensory orientation, stability in gait, and the timed up-and-go test. | 12 weeks | 
| Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) scale | the ABC scale assesses self-reported confidence during 16 activities related to mobility. | 12 weeks | 
| Hip joint proprioception error | The magnitude of proprioception error was measured on the participant's dominant lower extremity with a custom-built device25,51 that allows for rotation around the axis of a semi-goniometer to measure proprioception in the transverse plane at the hip joint. Proprioception was assessed by measuring the accuracy of actively pointing a marked line on the second toe to target angles along the semi-goniometer during two conditions, a vision condition and an occluded vision condition. | 12 weeks |