Abstract
Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of supervised Tai Chi exercises versus the conventional physical therapy exercises in a personalized rehabilitation program in terms of the incidence and severity of falls in a frail older population. Method: The participants were frail older adults living in the community, admitted to the day hospital program in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (n = 152). They were randomized to receive a 15-week intervention, either by supervised Tai Chi exercises (n = 76) or conventional physical therapy (n = 76). Fall incidence and severity were assessed using both the calendar technique and phone interviews once a month during 12 months following the end of the intervention. Other variables were collected at baseline to compare the two groups: age, comorbidity, balance, sensory interaction on balance, and self-rated health. Results: Both interventions demonstrated a protective effect on falls but Tai Chi showed a greater one (RR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.56–0.98) as compared to conventional physical therapy exercises. Conclusions: Supervised Tai Chi exercises as part of a rehabilitation program seem to be a more effective alternative to the conventional physical therapy exercises for this specific population.
Seniors who have fallen have a 50% chance of falling again during the following year, leading them to reduce their outings and thus decrease their social activities.
Frail older people could benefit more from an individualized intervention than the regular group program generally used in a Tai Chi intervention.
Tai Chi exercises seems to be a good alternative to regular physiotherapy exercises as a part of a multidisciplinary intervention in preventing a subsequent fall over a 12-month period.
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Acknowledgements
We thank all the patients who participated in this trial and the research staff at the Research Centre on Aging.
Declaration of Interest: This study was supported exclusively by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research [grant number mct-58344]. The authors report no conflicts of interest.