The effect of Tai Chi on balance and functional mobility in children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to examine the effect of Tai Chi on balance and functional mobility in children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss.

METHODS: The study included 39 children, aged 10-14 years, with congenital sensorineural hearing loss. The participants were divided into three groups as the Tai Chi group, conventional exercise group, and control group. The Tai Chi group and the conventional exercise group received a 1-h exercise program twice a week for 10 weeks. The balance function of the children was assessed using the Pediatric Balance Scale, the balance subtest of Bruininks-Oseretsky Test 2-Short Form, and the Functional Reach Test. The Timed Up and Go Test and the Timed Up and Down Stairs Test were used to assess functional mobility. The Wilcoxon rank, Kruskal-Wallis. and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS: When the pre-training values of the groups were compared, with the exception of the Timed Up and Go test, there was no statistically significant difference with respect to demographic data, balance, and functional mobility parameters (p > 0.05). After training, the overall balance and functional mobility tests improved compared to pre-training values in both the Tai Chi and conventional exercise groups (p < 0.05). When the post-training values were compared between the groups, with the exception of the Functional Reach Test and the Timed Up and Down Stairs Test, the results of both exercise groups were superior to those of the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that Tai Chi and conventional exercise programs have positive effects on balance and functional mobility in children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss. However, no superiority of Tai Chi or the conventional exercise programs was determined over the other. Both Tai Chi and conventional exercise programs could be used to improve balance and functional mobility in children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss. Implications for rehabilitation Tai Chi and conventional exercises are effective on balance in children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss. Tai Chi and conventional exercises are effective on functional mobility in children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss. Tai Chi may be added to the rehabilitation program for children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss.

KEYWORDS: Tai Chi; balance; functional mobility; hearing loss

PMID: 30623683 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2018.1535629