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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2010 Jul;18(3):261-79.
doi: 10.1123/japa.18.3.261.

Effects of Tai Chi and Western exercise on physical and cognitive functioning in healthy community-dwelling older adults

Ruth E Taylor-Piliae  1 , Kathryn A Newell, Rise Cherin, Martin J Lee, Abby C King, William L Haskell
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of Tai Chi and Western exercise on physical and cognitive functioning in healthy community-dwelling older adults

Ruth E Taylor-Piliae et al. J Aging Phys Act. 2010 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effects of Tai Chi (TC, n = 37) and Western exercise (WE, n = 39) with an attention-control group (C, n = 56) on physical and cognitive functioning in healthy adults age 69 +/- 5.8 yr, in a 2-phase randomized trial.

Methods: TC and WE involved combined class and home-based protocols. Physical functioning included balance, strength, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory endurance. Cognitive functioning included semantic fluency and digit-span tests. Data were analyzed using intention-to-treat analysis.

Results: At 6 mo, WE had greater improvements in upper body flexibility (F = 4.67, p = .01) than TC and C. TC had greater improvements in balance (F = 3.36, p = .04) and a cognitive-function measure (F = 7.75, p < .001) than WE and C. The differential cognitive-function improvements observed in TC were maintained through 12 mo.

Conclusion: The TC and WE interventions resulted in differential improvements in physical functioning among generally healthy older adults. TC led to improvement in an indicator of cognitive functioning that was maintained through 12 mo.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of participants throughout the study. Recruitment and enrollment took place between April 2000 and September 2001. Data were collected through October 2002.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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