The effects of practicing sitting Tai Chi on balance control and eye-hand coordination in the older adults: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 3 months of sitting Tai Chi training on the sitting balance control and eye-hand coordination of older adults subjects.

Methods: We randomly assigned 59 older adults from four residential care facilities to either sitting Tai Chi group or mobilizing exercises group as control. The sitting Tai Chi group underwent 3 months of training with a total of 36 sessions (1 hour/session, 3 sessions/week). The outcome measures included sitting balance tests (testing sequential weight shifting and forward reaching in a sitting position) and eye-hand coordination tests (reaction time, movement time and accuracy in finger pointing task).

Results: The Tai Chi practitioners showed significant improvement in their sequential weight shifting while sitting (improved by 29.0%, p ≤ 0.05) and in their maximum reaching distance from a sitting position (improved by 21.2%, p ≤ 0.05). No such improvements were found in the control group. In the eye-hand coordination test, the sitting Tai Chi practitioners had significant improvements in accuracy (improved by 17.3%, p ≤ 0.05). Also, no improvement was found in the control group.

Conclusions: The results demonstrate 3-months of sitting Tai Chi training can improve sitting balance and accuracy in finger pointing task in the older adults.

Implications for rehabilitation: Traditional Tai Chi poses difficulties for older adults with poor standing balance. This pilot study showed that a 3 months sitting Tai Chi training can improve sitting balance and accuracy in the finger pointing task in the older adults. Sitting Tai Chi can be a therapy option for older adults with poor standing balance.

Keywords: Balance; Tai Chi; exercise; eye-hand coordination; older adults.