Impact of tai-chi on falls among preclinically disabled older people: a randomized controlled trial
Date
2015
Authors
Day, L.
Hill, K.D.
Stathakis, V.Z.
Flicker, L.
Segal, L.
Cicuttini, F.
Jolley, D.
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Journal article
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Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2015; 16(5):420-426
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Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of tai-chi in preventing falls among community-dwelling older people.
Design: Multisite parallel group individually randomized controlled trial.
Setting: Melbourne, Australia.
Participants: Preclinically disabled community-dwelling people 70 + years (n = 503), without major medical conditions or moderate to severe cognitive impairment.
Intervention: Sixty-minute modified Sun style tai-chi group-based exercise program twice weekly for 48 weeks; control intervention was a seated group-based flexibility exercise program of the same dose.
Results: The adjusted fall incidence rate ratios at 24 and 48 weeks were 1.08 [(95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64–1.81)], and 1.12 (95% CI 0.75–1.67), respectively. A higher proportion of intervention participants ceased attendance in the first 24 weeks (difference 17.9%, 95% CI 9.6–25.8), and the second 24 weeks (2.7%, 95% CI −5.0 to 10.4). Intervention participants who ceased attendance had lower left quadriceps strength (difference 3.3 kg 95% CI 0.15–6.36) and required longer to complete the timed up and go test (difference 1.7 seconds 95% CI 0.22–3.17) at baseline.
Conclusions: This study does not support modified Sun style tai-chi as a falls prevention measure among relatively well community-dwelling older people with modified mobility and at increased risk of disability. Insufficient intervention intensity, or low exercise class attendance may have contributed to the lack of effect, as may have attrition bias among the intervention group.
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Copyright 2015 AMSA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine