Original article
Comparative Impacts of Tai Chi, Balance Training, and a Specially-Designed Yoga Program on Balance in Older Fallers

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2014.04.022Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

To compare the effect of a custom-designed yoga program with 2 other balance training programs.

Setting

Research laboratory.

Participants

A group of older adults (N=39; mean age, 74.15±6.99y) with a history of falling.

Interventions

Three different exercise interventions (Tai Chi, standard balance training, yoga) were given for 12 weeks.

Main Outcome Measures

Balance performance was examined during pre- and posttest using field tests, including the 8-foot up-and-go test, 1-leg stance, functional reach, and usual and maximal walking speed. The static and dynamic balances were also assessed by postural sway and dynamic posturography, respectively.

Results

Training produced significant improvements in all field tests (P<.005), but group difference and time × group interaction were not detected. For postural sway, significant decreases in the area of the center of pressure with eyes open (P=.001) and eyes closed (P=.002) were detected after training. For eyes open, maximum medial-lateral velocity significantly decreased for the sample (P=.013). For eyes closed, medial-lateral displacement decreased for Tai Chi (P<.01). For dynamic posturography, significant improvements in overall score (P=.001), time on the test (P=.006), and 2 linear measures in lateral (P=.001) and anterior-posterior (P<.001) directions were seen for the sample.

Conclusions

Yoga was as effective as Tai Chi and standard balance training for improving postural stability and may offer an alternative to more traditional programs.

Section snippets

Participants

Forty-eight healthy older persons participated in the study. To be included, the individual had to be ≥60 years old, be living independently, require no assistance in performing activities of daily living, and have fallen at least once in the past year. Individuals with neurologic impairment affecting balance; severe musculoskeletal impairment; unstable chronic disease state; significant visual or vestibular impairment; uncontrolled hypertension; simultaneous use of cardiovascular,

Subject characteristics

Table 1 provides subjects' characteristics. The only significant between-group difference was for age (P=.017), with the Tai Chi participants being significantly younger than the standard balance exercise program participants (mean difference ± SD, 7.53±2.55y).

Field tests

No significant group differences were detected at baseline for any field test except maximal walking speed (P=.01). Results for the 8-foot up-and-go test, 1-leg stance on the left and right sides, FR test on the left and right sides, and

Discussion

Our findings indicate that the balance yoga program can improve balance and gait in older adults to a similar degree as the other interventions examined.

For field tests, performances significantly improved for all interventions. The balance improvements seen with Tai Chi reflected those reported in a recent systematic review by Schleicher et al.9 They reported that with the exception of studies examining patients with Parkinson's disease and type II diabetes and active younger participants, the

Conclusions

The balance yoga training proved as effective as Tai Chi and a standard balance exercise program at improving balance in older fallers. Given the exponential rise in yoga participation, this program offers an attractive alternative to older individuals already involved in yogic training or those looking for an alternative to more traditional exercise interventions.

Suppliers

  • a.

    AMTI, 176 Waltham St, Watertown, MA 02472.

  • b.

    Perry Dynamics Inc, 2810 N Jasper St, Decatur, IL 62526.

References (42)

  • A. Shumway-Cook et al.

    Falls in the medicare population: incidence, associated factors, and impact on health care

    Phys Ther

    (2009)
  • A.J. Campbell et al.

    Falls in old age: a study of frequency and related clinical factors

    Age Ageing

    (1981)
  • D.R. Richardson et al.

    Falls in rural elders: an empirical study of risk factors

    J Am Board Fam Pract

    (2002)
  • A.J. Campbell et al.

    Risk factors for falls in a community-based prospective study of people of 70 years and older

    J Gerontol

    (1989)
  • A. Barnett et al.

    Community-based group exercise improves balance and reduces falls in at-risk older people: a randomised controlled trial

    Age Ageing

    (2003)
  • S.L. Wolf et al.

    Reducing frailty and falls in older persons: an investigation of Tai Chi and computerized balance training. Atlanta FICSIT Group. Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques

    J Am Geriatr Soc

    (1996)
  • M.M. Schleicher et al.

    Review of Tai Chi as an effective exercise on falls prevention in elderly

    Res Sports Med

    (2012)
  • M.D. Tran et al.

    Effects of hatha yoga practice on the health-related aspects of physical fitness

    Prev Cardiol

    (2001)
  • K.K. Zettergren et al.

    Effects of a yoga program on postural control, mobility, and gait speed in community-living older adults: a pilot study

    J Geriatr Phys Ther

    (2011)
  • N.G. Tatum et al.

    Therapeutic yoga to improve balance and floor transfer in older adults

    Top Geriatr Rehabil

    (2011)
  • M.E. Tinetti et al.

    Falls efficacy as a measure of fear of falling

    J Gerontol

    (1990)
  • Cited by (60)

    • A 10-week yoga practice has no effect on cognition, but improves balance and motor learning by attenuating brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in older adults

      2020, Experimental Gerontology
      Citation Excerpt :

      Thus, more research is needed to further elucidate this underlying mechanism. In accordance with previous studies (Schmid et al., 2010; Zettergren et al., 2011; Ni et al., 2014), we observed that twice-weekly yoga improved balance under single-task conditions in older adults. Furthermore, although no improvement in executive functions including working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility was observed, balance under dual-task conditions improved.

    View all citing articles on Scopus

    Disclosures: none.

    View full text