Tai chi: Moving for Better Balance: A Guide for Program Implementation

Tai chi: Moving for Better Balance, Guide to Program Implementation In 2006, a team of researchers from the Oregon Research Institute, led by Fuzhong Li, Phd., conducted a study which found that a program of Tai Chi could reduce the rate of falling in older adults by as much as 55%. This manual was prepared for state and local public health departments and other NGO's to be able to plan and implement Tai chi: Moving for Better Balance in their communities. More Recently: Researchers analyzed results from 10 studies involving more than 2,600 patients ranging in age from 56 to 98 years old. Participants took part in hour-long tai chi classes one to three times weekly for between 12 and 26 weeks. Taken together, results of the studies showed that compared with those who didn't practice tai chi, those who did reduced their risk of falling by 43 percent-and halved their risk of suffering an injury due to a fall. Most surprising: The results suggest that tai chi worked better than other approaches such as physical therapy, balance training, resistance exercises, stretching, or yoga. (Carr, Teresa. "To Prevent Falls, Try Tai Chi." Consumer Reports, ww.consumerreports.org/exercise-fitness/to-prevent-fallstry-tai-chi/.) Tai chi: Moving for Better Balance Implementation Guide, instructors' manual, supplemental materials, student learning guidebook, and instruction DVD produced during research were adapted, compiled, revised (2011)and published by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control as Tai chi: Moving for Better Balance: a Guide for Program Implementation. This Program Guide consists of the Program Implementation Guide, Instructors' Manual, and Student Manual. The DVD is available separately. Read more