Effects of Tai Chi and Western Exercise on Physical and Cognitive Functioning in Healthy Community-dwelling Older Adults

Overview

Journal J Aging Phys Act

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2010 Jul 24

PMID 20651414

Citations 65

Authors

Ruth E Taylor-Piliae

Kathryn A Newell

Rise Cherin

Martin J Lee

Abby C King

William L Haskell

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effects of Tai Chi (TC, n = 37) and Western exercise (WE, n = 39) with an attention-control group (C, n = 56) on physical and cognitive functioning in healthy adults age 69 +/- 5.8 yr, in a 2-phase randomized trial.

Methods: TC and WE involved combined class and home-based protocols. Physical functioning included balance, strength, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory endurance. Cognitive functioning included semantic fluency and digit-span tests. Data were analyzed using intention-to-treat analysis.

Results: At 6 mo, WE had greater improvements in upper body flexibility (F = 4.67, p = .01) than TC and C. TC had greater improvements in balance (F = 3.36, p = .04) and a cognitive-function measure (F = 7.75, p < .001) than WE and C. The differential cognitive-function improvements observed in TC were maintained through 12 mo.

Conclusion: The TC and WE interventions resulted in differential improvements in physical functioning among generally healthy older adults. TC led to improvement in an indicator of cognitive functioning that was maintained through 12 mo.

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