| Falls among elderly has become a growing concern as | | | | promote functional stability so as to reduce the risk |
| it often comes with other complication such as bones | | | | of falls and is especially beneficial for the elderly to |
| fractures and in some serious cases, may lead to | | | | engage in. |
| death. It is common to notice that in MRT train | | | | In one of the research, it has shown that Tai Chi can |
| stations; there have been warning signs near almost | | | | help to prevent a decline in functional balance and gait |
| every elevator which states that out of 10 people | | | | among older people (Mau-Roung, Lin et al., 2006). |
| who fell from the elevator, 8 of which are elderly. | | | | There is also some evidence that balance training |
| This also show the current statistics and issue which | | | | using Tai Chi, can reduce falls in elderly by around one |
| we aim to address. | | | | third. (Wolf, SL et al., 1993) In another research, |
| As falls are a major cause of fracture, along with | | | | results have shown that Tai Chi had most benefit in |
| fragile bones, there have been many exercise | | | | preventing several falls. (Cambell, AJ et al., 1997) |
| research which concentrated on fall prevention. Given | | | | From the above research, we can observe that Tai |
| that someone who is having osteoporosis, fall | | | | Chi in particular do help in strengthening of the |
| prevention should be a major concern and priority in | | | | muscles and core balance which helps to reduce fall |
| the planning of exercise program. | | | | risks. In another one of the research done, there |
| Fortunately, falls is not inevitable among elderly and | | | | were statistically significant differences in changes in |
| there is much which we can do for ourselves. | | | | balance favoring the Tai Chi group on five of six |
| Prevention is always better than cure and numerous | | | | balance tests. This has led to the conclusion in this |
| research studies have given us a pretty good insight | | | | research that participation in weekly practices of Tai |
| on the different types and quantity of exercise that | | | | Chi classes for 16 weeks can help to prevent falls in |
| will help to reduce falls, especially among the elderly. | | | | relatively healthy elderly. (Voukelatos Alexander, MA |
| We need to bear in mind, that although falls can have | | | | (Psychol) et al., 2007) |
| many causes, engaging in exercise may be only one | | | | While much research has been proven on Tai Chi as |
| of many other steps which we can adopt for | | | | an effective exercise in preventing fall, we shall now |
| reducing fall risk. | | | | take a closer analysis as to exactly why practicing |
| Research had shown for certain that having certain | | | | Tai Chi is able to achieve these desired results. Taichi |
| physical attributes such as weak legs, poor muscles, | | | | provides a good form of weight bearing exercise, |
| poor balance and stability and also having difficult | | | | since it emphasizes a lot on the weight transfer of |
| locomotion, which is also known as gait tend to make | | | | the body natural weight. In Tai Chi, you perform a |
| one much more likely to fall as compared to | | | | series of slow, rhythmic and graceful controlled body |
| someone who is strong, stable, and more agile. | | | | movements while your body remains erect and |
| Since strength, muscle mass, gait, balance and | | | | anatomically aligned. |
| stability are all closely interlinked; therefore many of | | | | By doing so, we activate the agonist/ antagonist/ |
| the exercises intervention programs discussed will | | | | synergist muscles in the correct firing sequence to |
| include strengthening exercise along with balance and | | | | support body mass in the direction of gravity. Muscle |
| stability training. Engaging in resistance training | | | | operating eccentrically create stress on the bone; the |
| programs are largely successful at increasing muscle | | | | phenomenon of resistance training. Hence, Tai Chi |
| mass and significantly increasing muscle strength in | | | | provides a very good form of exercise workout as |
| people who are relatively weak to begin with and will | | | | resistance training on the body. |
| also help to bring out improvements in their core | | | | The nature of Tai Chi movements follows that of |
| balance and gait. | | | | the human biomechanics principles and anatomical |
| Engaging in resistance training alone or coupled with | | | | alignment. With proper postural alignment and |
| additional balance and stability training has been | | | | application of human biomechanical principles, it allows |
| shown to help reduce falls. However, research studies | | | | Tai Chi practitioners to habitualise the correct postural |
| of exercise that only focused on balance itself, | | | | alignment form and is able to positively transfer this |
| without engaging in resistance training exercise, in | | | | into their daily activities. When we discuss on the |
| general did not help much in preventing falls. All these | | | | importance of balance and stability training, we are |
| studies underscore the importance of having strong | | | | actually referring to specifically functional stability. Tai |
| muscles for fall prevention. (Kerri Winters-Stone, PHD, | | | | Chi also helps to improve individual in their kinesthetic |
| 2005) | | | | awareness and faster reaction time. |
| While there are many recommendations for different | | | | The movement patterns in Tai Chi emphasize a lot |
| resistance exercises and strength training programs, | | | | on smooth transition during weight transfer and also |
| Tai Chi has been considered as one exercise to be | | | | on maintaining stability using single leg, examples of |
| very effective in helping individual to build their core | | | | such Tai Chi movements are "Ñ! |
| strength, especially in the lower extremities and | | | | |