Eight forms of moving meditation for preventing falls in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults

In numerous countries worldwide, fall prevention among older adults is a major public health issue. For older adults, regular participation in moderate physical activity or exercise lowers the risks of falls. However, scant information is available regarding the prevention strategies that the most at-risk groups may undertake. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a fall prevention strategy, eight forms of moving meditation (EFMM), on community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan.

This was a quasi-experimental study; 84 participants were recruited from Taipei in Taiwan. For 12 weeks, participants in the experimental group performed 30-min EFMM 3 times per week. The measurements included a Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed Get-up-and-Go Test (TGUG), and a One-Leg Stance Test (OLST) with eyes both opened and closed. All were conducted at the baseline and 12 weeks after intervention.

The participants who performed EFMM showed a significant and positive performance on FRT, TGUG, and OLST with eyes opened and eyes closed compared to those in the control group.

The results suggest that EFMM is an effective strategy for enhancing balance and functional mobility and preventing falls among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults.