Prevention of falls through the practice of Tai Chi in older adults - Lima, May 2010 - February 2011

INTRODUCTION: Interventions to prevent and reduce falls in older adults have developed steadily and within the practice of Tai chi has favorable background for such prevention OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the practice of Tai Chi, prevents and reduces the incidence of falls in elderly patients attending the Hospital Loayza and elderly centers of Cercado de Lima METHODS: An experimental study randomized, prospective, longitudinal, which was formed two groups of elderly patients who had falls or fall risk were determined through the Tinetti test, the SPPB and functional scope, the first being the group involved with the practice of Tai Chi twice a week for six months, the second group were given a program of education for the prevention of falls once a month for three months called controls, all patients were followed assessments through the aforementioned test at six months into the intervention, we selected a total of 54 patients who met the following criteria: they had fallen in the past six months or who had risk of falls, who were randomly assigned upon acceptance of participation in the research, either above groups, in number of 27 for each of the groups. RESULTS: In the experimental group, and the p-value of 0.001 was demonstrated that the practice of Tai chi prevents and reduces the incidence of falls in the elderly, the p-value is 0.5 for muscle weakness so no benefit is for this item, the p value is 0.063 for gait and balance disorders therefore is not positive effects. CONCLUSIONS: The practice of Tai Chi continuously for six months, twice a week, decreases the incidence of falls in older adults, but it has positive effects on muscle weakness, and is not shown to improve motion disorders and balance