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A significant, damaging fall can precipitate a steep downward spiral
culminating in disability. Tai Chi Chuan prevents falls. Frailty and
Injuries: Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques (FICSIT)
was a large scale, (over 2000 people participated) prospective study
to determine the effects of a number of interventions designed to
prevent falls. Seven sites participated, each implementing a different
strategy such as traditional physical therapy (individual or group),
education/behavior modification, endurance training, flexibility,
exercise, home safety evaluations, balance training, resistive training,
nutritional supplements and Tai Chi Chuan. Only two interventions
were linked with a statistically significant decrease in the number
of falls. A group that engaged in strength and balance training
(individualized physical therapy) saw a statistically significant
decline in falls, while the most potent intervention tested, Tai
Chi Chuan, realized a 47.5% decrease in multiple falls.
Given Tai Chi's apparent ability to prevent falls, it is not surprising
that literature and clinical experience supports the notion that
Tai Chi Chuan can improve balance. Several studies have compared
Tai Chi Chuan practitioners to sedentary people. Each of these have
concluded that the Tai Chi practitioners had significantly better
balance. Prospective studies have also found improvement in balance
tests including significant improvements in lateral body stability,
single leg stance, moving platform posturography test and the Dizziness
Handicap Inventory questionnaire scores and velocity of sway. Another study found Tai Chi to be effective
in maintaining balance improvements gained in an orthodox training
program.
Finally, participants tend to report
an improvement in balance. A perceived
increase in balance will tend to increase confidence in walking,
which in turn, leads to a reduced fear of falling, reversing or
slowing the spiral into frailty.
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