Building the Understanding of the Effects of Tai Chi Training on Walking in Older People

Posted On: December 6th, 2017

NCCIH

Building the Understanding of the Effects of Tai Chi Training on Walking in Older People

“Could tai chi help address some of the walking problems, including the risk of falling, that often plague older people? This preliminary clinical trial adds to the growing evidence that the answer may be yes.”

The preliminary clinical trial referred to is being performed by researchers at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, as well as others. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine at the NIH shared an article highlighting a paper on this research. Dr. Peter Wayne is one of the authors of this paper titled “Can Tai Chi training impact fractal stride time dynamics, an index of gait health, in older adults? Cross-sectional and randomized trial studies”.

One result of the paper noted by the authors is that tai chi may exert its effects by maintaining or improving our flexibility to respond and adapt to unpredictable changes in terrain, stimuli, and stresses when we walk”.

Read the Article on the NCCIH Website

Reference for NCCIH Article

Gow BJ, Hausdorff JM, Manor B, et al. Can tai chi training impact fractal stride time dynamics, an index of gait health, in older adults? Cross-sectional and randomized trial studies. PLoS One. 2017;12(10):e0186212.