Fall, Postural Balance, Proprioceptive Disorders
Conditions
Brief summary
Aims: Examine the effects of a community Tai Chi program on measures of balance and sensorimotor function. Methods: In a pre-test and post-test design, balance was measured in older adults (N=344; 73.4±7.4 years) with 30-second chair stand, timed-up and go, and 4-stage balance test following a 12-week community-based tai chi intervention. Balance measures and additional sensorimotor measures, including hip abductor electromechanical delay and hip proprioception, were measured in a smaller sample of older adults (n=11; 67.3±3.7 years).
Interventions
BEHAVIORALtai chi
12-week community-based tai chi program
Sponsors
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
RETROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to 95 Years
Inclusion criteria
* age 60 years or older * ability to independently ambulate * self-described concern with stability and/or mobility.
Exclusion criteria
* Neurological diagnosis * Participants body weight exceeds \>450 pounds).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 30-second chair number | 12 weeks | The number of times a person can stand up and sit down from a chair in 30 seconds |
| Timed Up and Go | 12 weeks | The time (in seconds) for a person to stand from a chair, walk 10 feet, turn 180 degrees and return to sit in the chair |
| 4 stage balance test | 12 weeks | How long (in seconds) can a person stand with feet together, stand with one foot forward and to the side, stand in tandem (one foot immediately in front of the other, and stand on one foot |
| Hip abductor muscle contraction time | 12 weeks | Hip abductor muscle contraction speed as measured as the time (in milliseconds) between the onset of electromyography signal and torque onset from hip muscle abduction |
| Brief-Balance Evaluation System Test | 12 weeks | The bBESTest is an 8-item, clinically-based assessment measuring anticipatory postural adjustments, compensatory postural responses, sensory orientation, stability in gait, and the timed up-and-go test. |
| Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) scale | 12 weeks | the ABC scale assesses self-reported confidence during 16 activities related to mobility. |
| Hip joint proprioception error | 12 weeks | The magnitude of proprioception error was measured on the participant's dominant lower extremity with a custom-built device25,51 that allows for rotation around the axis of a semi-goniometer to measure proprioception in the transverse plane at the hip joint. Proprioception was assessed by measuring the accuracy of actively pointing a marked line on the second toe to target angles along the semi-goniometer during two conditions, a vision condition and an occluded vision condition. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed