A randomized controlled trial of Tai chi for balance, sleep quality and cognitive performance in elderly Vietnamese

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effects of Tai chi exercise on balance, sleep quality, and cognitive performance in community-dwelling elderly in Vinh city, Vietnam.

Design

A randomized controlled trial.

Participants

One hundred two subjects were recruited.

Intervention

Subjects were divided randomly into two groups. The Tai chi group was assigned 6 months’ Tai chi training. The control group was instructed to maintain their routine daily activities.

Outcome measures

The Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Trail Making Test (TMT) were used as primary outcome measures.

Results

Participants in the Tai chi group reported significant improvement in TMT (part A) (F [1, 71] = 78.37, P < 0.001) and in TMT (part B), (F [1, 71] = 175.00, P < 0.001) in comparison with the control group. Tai chi participants also reported better scores in FES (F [1, 71] = 96.90, P < 0.001) and in PSQI (F [1,71] = 43.69, P = 0.001) than the control group.

Conclusion

Tai chi is beneficial to improve balance, sleep quality, and cognitive performance of the elderly.

Keywords:

• Tai chi
• sleep
• balance

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant no 3612/QD-BGDDT from the Vietnam International Education Development; travel grant from Graduiertenakademie Universität Heidelberg/ Heidelberg University Graduate Academy, Institute of Gerontology, Heidelberg University, Germany; and Tai chi club in Vinh city, Vietnam.

Disclosure

There are no conflicts of interest in this work. The study sponsors played no role in the study design, collection and analysis of data, writing of the manuscript, or decision to submit the manuscript for publication.