Tai Chi (A) in Some

Tai Chi

(a) in some parts of Asia, seniors regularly practice Tai Chi. Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that is highly integrated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice. The Mayo Clinic (2010) describes Tai Chi as a "noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching."

Research is revealing unequivocal medical benefits associated with Tai Chi practice. Those benefits apply especially to the senior community. For example, Tai Chi is indicated in the treatment of Crohn's disease, arthritis, and impaired mobility (Schlehuber 2010). Moreover, Tai Chi is recommended as a treatment modality for mental health issues and stress management (Mayo Clinic 2010). Clinical practice with an elder population can and should include Tai Chi as an intervention for improving balance, strength, cognition, and postural control.

Tai Chi is a low-impact and gentle form of exercise suitable for most populations, including seniors. The nature of the movements requires mental concentration and helps the practitioner cultivate balance. Furthermore, the movements of Tai Chi can strengthen muscles without requiring the exertion typical of other strength training exercises. For seniors in good physical shape, some forms of Tai Chi are also mildly aerobic and can therefore be incorporated into an appropriate cardiovascular training program in a senior health care facility. There are several different forms of Tai Chi; a senior health care worker or facility administrator should investigate the range of Tai Chi forms and select programs that are best suited for its population.

The mental health benefits of Tai Chi may be more well-known than its physical benefits. Among the mental health benefits that seniors can derive from a regular Tai Chi practice include reduced anxiety and depression and improvements in overall feelings of well-being (May Clinic 2010).

(b) However, clinical practice with seniors reveals a whole range of physiological benefits associated with the practice of Tai Chi. Research shows that Tai Chi may help some seniors improve bone mineral density and therefore prevent injuries associated with falls. In a study of 180 subjects, Woo, Hong, Lau & Lynn (2007) found that seniors aged 65-74 demonstrated "moderate" improvements in musculoskeletal health. Practicing Tai Chi also seemed to be more beneficial for reducing bone mineral density loss in female vs. male participants. A study of over 700 seniors aged 60 and older showed that a weekly practice of Tai Chi reduced incidences of falls (Voukelatos, Cumming, Lord & Rissel 2007). Thus, Tai Chi can help practitioners with balance. Balance in turn helps reduce the frequency of falls. If Tai Chi also improves bone mineral density, then Tai Chi may also help reduce the severity of injuries resulting from falls. Yao, Giordani & Alexander (2008) studied the impact of a specific technique of teaching Tai Chi called the Sticky Hands. In particular, the researchers applied Sticky Hands as a means to motivate seniors with dementia via increased emotional as well as physical contact. Wolfson, Whipple, Derby, Judge, King, Amerman, Schmidt & Smyers (1996) found that among a senior community with a mean age of 80, Tai Chi practiced several times per week significantly improved a number of balance indicators.