Effect of Tai Chi on Body Balance: Randomized Controlled Trial in Men with Osteopenia or Osteoporosis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of 18-week Tai Chi training on body balance in dynamic trial among elderly men. The study covered 49 subjects from age 60 to 82.1 years, who had osteopenia or osteoporosis. The subjects were recruited from the community by direct mailings and community efforts to participate in studies. The participants were randomly assigned to either the exercise intervention (n = 25) or control groups (n = 24). The Tai Chi group participated in an 18-week exercise class held for 45 min, twice a week. Body balance was assessed using a Computer Posturographic System PE 90 produced by the Military Institute of Aviation Medicine in Warsaw with modified software made in Pro-Med. During the measurement of body balance, the capacity to perform specific tasks was analyzed (deflections in the set scope and direction). In the Tai Chi group, an increase (p < or = 0.01) in effectiveness of balance task performance was noted from 80.95% to 84.45% after the training. In the control group, no statistically significant improvement in the level of body balance was found in the same period. Thus, an 18-week period of Tai Chi exercises twice a week for 45 min is beneficial for dynamic balance. It can be important for reducing fall risk factors.

Exercise interventions to reduce fall-related fractures and their risk factors in individuals with low bone density: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

“…2. Balance was an outcome measure in 12 RCT's [28,31,36,38,40,43,44,48,[53][54][55][56]. Balance outcome measures, however, were very diverse.…”

“…In contrast, posturography assesses body sway, which can be considered a measure at a physiological level. In ten RCT's programs which included balance exercise, such as tandem stance, obstacle courses or Tai Chi, were compared to an inactive control group or a sham intervention [28,31,36,40,43,44,48,53,55,56]. The duration of the exercise interventions varied from 10 weeks to 30 months and exercise frequency was two times a week to every day.…”

“…The effectiveness of a program with balance training on balance measured with posturography was studied in seven RCT's [31,36,40,44,48,53,56], of which four found positive effects in the experimental group compared to controls [36,40,48,56]. In these studies percentage improvement in the exercise groups varied from~−2% to +29.2% and the changes in the control group varied from −53.3% to +2.2%.…”

Influence of personal patterns of behavior on the effects of Tai Chi: a pilot study

“…Many studies on the effects of Tai Chi have been conducted. In the long term, Tai Chi can favorably enhance cardiorespiratory function [2,3] and may improve physical function, such as body balance [4,5] or gait performance [6]. Furthermore, even in the form of brief exercise, it can improve self-reported mood and relieve stress [7,8].…”

Taijiquan in the prevention of symptoms of Parkinson’s disease – A comparative analysis of research results

“…Resistance exercises combined with other exercises improve muscle strength, influence postural disorders, reduce the incidence of falls and slowing down of movement, and improve the quality of life [15,16,17,18]. Flexibility means the ability to move in the maximum range (maximum amplitude).…”