Tai Chi and Fall Prevention

The "Baby-boom" generation is the fastest growing demographic in the USA and it is estimated that there will be more than 70 million adults aged 65 and older by 2030. A variety of age-related changes in physical, physiological, psychological and mechanical characteristics in this population, including diminishing eyesight, proprioception, and strength and increasing rates of hypotension, medication use, insomnia, osteoporosis and chronic diseases, place older adults at increased risk for falling. Currently falling is the leading cause of non-fatal hospital injuries in those aged ≥ 55 years, and the leading cause of unintentional injury death for adults aged ≥ 65 years. More than 30% of seniors aged ≥ 65 years fall each year and, of those who fall, 20-30% suffer moderate to severe injuries resulting in loss of mobility and independence and an increased risk of premature death. The financial burden of treating fall-related injuries is expected to exceed $44 billion per year by the year 2020. Thus, it is a public health imperative to develop and disseminate efficacious interventions to reduce the number of falls, and fall-related injuries, in older adults to maximize their independence and quality of life, and to minimize the public health burden of the consequences of falling. Tai Chi is emerging as a safe, effective and economical method for reducing the risk of falling in this population. A growing number of randomized trials from at least four continents have demonstrated the potential of Tai Chi to reduce fall rate in older adults, and at least one of these successful trials has been translated into a community-based program that has shown excellent reach and integration into a variety of senior service providers, including a state Department of Health. Despite the encouraging outcomes of studies to date a number of issues remain to be explored, including identifying the optimal combination of style and intervention parameters (frequency, intensity, duration) for various older adult populations (healthy community-dwelling, minimally disabled, or institutionalized) to

maximize the physical, physiological, psychological and mechanical benefits of Tai Chi participation. Developing cooperative and coordinated large-scale studies to systematically examine these issues is an important opportunity for researchers.