Research summary · Healthy ageing
Tai Chi, balance and fitness in older adults
A 2000 study compared older men who practised Tai Chi with sedentary participants, examining balance, flexibility and cardiorespiratory measures.
- Publication year
- 2000
- Publication type
- Cross-sectional comparison
- Journal
- British Journal of Sports Medicine
- Population / context
- Tai Chi · Physical activity
What the publication reports
The Tai Chi group included 28 men, with a mean age of 67.5 years and an average 13.2 years of practice. They performed better on several heart-rate, flexibility and single-leg standing measures.
Limits and interpretation
The cross-sectional design cannot establish that Tai Chi caused the differences. Long-term practitioners may differ from sedentary participants before training begins. Findings in older men cannot automatically be applied to women, younger athletes or injury rehabilitation.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
Balance control, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness among older Tai Chi practitioners.
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 10690447DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.34.1.29Full text at the sourceReader discussion
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