An outpatient Tai Chi program: Effects on veterans' functional outcomes

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Physical Therapy
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• Older veterans often experience gait and balance problems, increasing fall risk.
• Maintaining physical function is crucial for independence and quality of life in aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of a 12-week evidence-based Tai Chi program.
• To determine if Tai Chi improves balance and physical function in older veterans.

Main Methods:

• Community-dwelling veterans with gait/balance issues participated.
• Outcome measures included Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I).
• Assessments were conducted at baseline and after 12 weeks.

Main Results:

• Eleven veterans completed the program.
• Significant improvements were observed in BBS scores (p=0.004).
• Timed Up and Go (TUG) scores improved (median 1.3s, p=0.022), but FES-I did not change significantly.

Conclusions:

• A 12-week Tai Chi program shows promise for improving functional outcomes.
• Tai Chi may be an effective intervention for older veterans with mild to moderate balance deficits.