Author: Gallant MP1, Tartaglia M2, Hardman S3, Burke K4
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>1 University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
<sup>2</sup>2 New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA.
<sup>3</sup>3 Safe States Alliance, Atlanta, GA, USA.
<sup>4</sup>4 Albany Medical College, NY, USA.
Conference/Journal: J Appl Gerontol.
Date published: 2017 Apr 1
Other:
Volume ID: 733464817703004 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1177/0733464817703004. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 153
This study aimed to evaluate a community-based implementation of an evidence-based fall prevention program, in which 131 individuals participated in Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance. Self-report and functional performance assessments included demographics, health and fall history, the Activities-Specific Balance Scale, the Timed Up and Go test, and the Functional Reach test. Pre-post scores were compared with the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The mostly female participants were 73 years old, on average. At baseline, 18% reported being afraid or very afraid of falling, and 18% had fallen in the past 6 months. At follow-up, there was significant improvement in Timed Up and Go ( p < .001), Functional Reach ( p < .01), and Activities-Specific Balance Scale scores ( p < .01). These results demonstrate that a 12-week evidence-based Tai Chi program can be feasibly implemented by novice instructors, is well-received by older adults, and can effectively reduce fall risk when implemented in community settings.
KEYWORDS: evidence-based practice; exercise; falls; program evaluation
PMID: 28398129 DOI: 10.1177/0733464817703004