Community-based Tai Chi, Balance, and Fall Risk
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
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).
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Tai Chi All participants enrolled in a 12 week community-based tai chi program. |
Behavioral: tai chi
12-week community-based tai chi program
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- 30-second chair number [12 weeks]
The number of times a person can stand up and sit down from a chair in 30 seconds
- Timed Up and Go [12 weeks]
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
- 4 stage balance test [12 weeks]
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
- Hip abductor muscle contraction time [12 weeks]
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
- Brief-Balance Evaluation System Test [12 weeks]
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.
- Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) scale [12 weeks]
the ABC scale assesses self-reported confidence during 16 activities related to mobility.
- Hip joint proprioception error [12 weeks]
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.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
age 60 years or older
-
ability to independently ambulate
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self-described concern with stability and/or mobility.
Exclusion Criteria:
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Neurological diagnosis
-
Participants body weight exceeds >450 pounds).
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNC Asheville | Asheville | North Carolina | United States | 28804 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- University of North Carolina at Asheville
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Jason R Wingert, Phd, UNC Asheville
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 1373542-1