Falls are a leading cause of serious injury and loss of independence among older adults, with many experiencing increased risk due to chronic medical conditions and multiple long-term disabilities .

Scientific evidence strongly supports Tai Chi as an effective method for fall prevention and improving physical stability in this population.

A comprehensive review of 17 studies involving over 4,000 participants found that well-designed exercise programs, including Tai Chi, significantly reduce fall-related injuries and the incidence of falls leading to fractures and serious injuries .

Tai Chi was specifically featured in two of these studies, highlighting its role in enhancing balance and coordination—key factors in fall prevention .

Physical therapists recommend Tai Chi for its ability to strengthen the systems responsible for balance, such as vision, proprioception, and muscle strength, through slow, controlled movements and a focus on body awareness .

Tai Chi’s benefits extend beyond physical stability.

It has been shown to improve global cognition scores in older adults at risk for dementia, suggesting that it also supports cognitive health, which can indirectly reduce fall risk by enhancing attention and executive function .

The psychological benefits of Tai Chi include reduced stress, improved emotional balance, and decreased fear of falling, all of which contribute to greater confidence and willingness to remain active .

Group classes offer social engagement, further supporting mental health and reducing isolation .

Tai Chi is accessible and adaptable, making it suitable for individuals with varying levels of mobility and fitness .

Its gentle, low-impact nature allows older adults to participate safely, and its emphasis on posture, breathing, and mindfulness promotes both physical and emotional well-being .

Falls are a leading cause of serious injury and loss of independence among older adults, with many experiencing increased risk due to chronic medical conditions and multiple long-term disabilities .

Title:

Content: Healthy aging comes with challenges. For a variety of reasons, as each year passes, the likelihood of falling increases.

According to Dr. Boris Goralnik, a geriatric specialist at UPMC in North Central Pa, a fall is defined as an unexpected event in which a person comes to rest on the ground, floor, or a lower level.

“Falls result in fall-related injuries, progression of gait impairments, loss of independence, depression,” Goralnik said. “It is a leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality among older adults.”

By preventing falls, providers try to prevent related injuries such as fractures, hematomas, and skin lacerations. From practice and literature, said Goralnik, the most important risk factor of falls is a previous history of falls.

According to Janine Fee, MS, MPT, a physical therapist who is certified in vestibular rehabilitation at Evangelical Community Hospital, physical balance, which is important to avoid falling, can be complicated.

“I like to use the analogy of a baseball field,’’ Fee said. “Every player on the field is important and if a player is not working, then your team — your balance — is going to be impacted.”

Fee said many systems have a direct impact on balance. Eyes, ears, sense of touch — especially with our feet, muscle strength, flexibility, and posture are a few. And, the brain can have a major impact on our ability to avoid falling.

Fee said any weakening of one or more of these areas will significantly increase the risk of falling.

According to the Centers for Disease Control website, one out of four seniors over the age of 65 will fall each year. One out of five of those falls will cause serious injuries such as broken bones or head injuries.

“This can then lead to serious consequences that may significantly impact a person’s overall quality of life,” said Fee. “Even if the fall didn’t cause harm, it is likely that the person now develops a fear of falling.”

Many factorsIn many cases, Goralnik said, falls and fall-related injuries lead to substantial deficiency in activities of daily living and the need for supportive care for older adults. He agreed with Fee that a fear of falling leads to things like not participating in activities that require balance, causing weaknesses and furthering the risk of repeated falls. Paying attention to the body and being more aware of areas contributing to balance is a big step in preventing falls.

Age alone should not be blamed as a factor regarding balance, said Fee.

“I strongly believe that if you stay active, you can minimize the effects that aging has on all of these players,” Fee said.

Diseases and underlying medical conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, neuropathy, strokes, vision problems, and pain can impact a person’s balance. Other factors such as medications, fear of falling, and environmental factors.

It is very important for older patients to discuss with their providers any changes in the gait, possible new onset gait unsteadiness, or if they start to experience new musculoskeletal pain, Goralnik advised.

“Some of the medications may increase the risk of falls,” said Goralnik. “It is very important for people to have a complete list of all current medications when they visit their medical providers.”

Having detailed information, he said, about existing and potential risk factors may help reduce the risk of future falls.

Fee added that testing can be completed to assess balance and what kind of treatment or therapy might be available to assist with balance. Fee said a fall risk assessment is a good first step to preventing falls.

“You can talk to your doctor or health care provider to refer you to a physical therapist to evaluate your risk for falling,” said Fee.

She said a physical therapist will measure/evaluate strength, flexibility, analyzation of posture and feet, how you walk and perform specific balance measures to determine your areas of weakness. The therapist may also ask about fall history and possible home hazards like uneven pavement, rugs, steps, clutter or pets.

“Then a physical therapist can design a specialized treatment program to help you reduce your risk of falls,” Fee said. “Other recommendations to improve overall balance is getting involved in a local gym where you can perform strength and balance exercises like Tai Chi or yoga.”

Temporary conditionsIn addition to medical conditions such as strokes, brain injuries, etc., other temporary conditions also have effects on an individual’s balance.

Fee, a physical therapist who specializes in inner ear disorders, said the most common inner ear problem is a condition known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Classic symptoms include brief episodes of spinning or imbalance that occur when lying down, rolling over in bed, or looking up.

“BPPV can significantly increase a person’s risk for falling especially if they have other balance risk factors. This problem is easily identified by the physical therapist that is trained in detecting inner ear problems,” she added.

Fee said a physical therapist with specialized training can provide the most appropriate intervention to reduce or resolve these symptoms in as little as one to three sessions.

Fee said physical therapists can often identify risk factors and provide specific recommendations to improve balance.

“Physical therapists are like coaches, but you have to do the work. In order for your balance to improve, you have to challenge the team!”

Goralnik added, that in many cases, falls and fall-related injuries lead to substantial deficiency with activities of daily living and the need for supportive care for older adults.

The economic burdens from falls are substantial and likely to increase with the growth of the older population, according to Goralnik.

Fall-related health care costs include hospital bills, fees for professional service, and costs of prescription medications, home health services, long-term care facilities, and durable medical equipment.

“Always inform your doctor about recent falls and fall-related injuries,” concluded Gorainik.

It is very important for seniors to discuss any changes of the gait, possible new onset gait unsteadiness, or if they started to experience new musculoskeletal pain with their doctor.

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Content: SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

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Journal Article

Citation

Torun E, Az A, Akdemir T, Solakoğlu GA, Açıksarı K, Güngörer B. Ulus. Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2023; 29(8): 897-903.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Ulusal Travma ve Acil Cerrahi Dernegi)

DOI

10.14744/tjtes.2023.07433

PMID

37563898

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We evaluated risk factors and frailty assessments to identify fall-prone geriatric patients in the emergency department (ED).

METHODS: This prospective study included 264 consecutive patients aged ≥65 years who presented to the ED. The participants were divided into those who had fallen or not. The patient groups were compared in terms of age, sex, presenting complaints (falls vs. others), comorbidities, medications, frailty assessment tools, and orthostatic hypotension (OH).

RESULTS: In total, 264 patients were included: 129 (48.8%) patients who had fallen and 135 (51.2%) who hadn't fallen. The mean ages of patients who had fallen and those who had not fallen were 80.48±8.38 and 79.42±7.94 years, respectively. In addition, 62.01% (n=80) and 51.85% (n=70) of patients were females. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of age or sex (P=0.290 and P=0.096, respectively). In total, 89.92% (n=116) of patients who had fallen had at least one chronic medical condition. There was a significant difference in the proportion of patients with OH between the groups. Frailty scores such as the Edmonton Frail Scale, Frail Non-Disabled Questionnaire, PRISMA-7 questionnaire, Identification of Seniors at Risk test, and Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale scores were also significantly different between the groups. A higher PRISMA-7 score at admission was found to be an independent predictor of fall risk.

CONCLUSION: Falls occur more frequently in the older population and in females. In addition, the frailty assessment scores, except for the FRESH Frailty Scale, were associated with falls in geriatric patients. After elimination of non-significant variables in multivariate analysis, a high PRISMA-7 questionnaire score at admission was identified as an independent predictor of fall risk.

Language: en

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Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Scientific evidence strongly supports Tai Chi as an effective method for fall prevention and improving physical stability in this population.

A comprehensive review of 17 studies involving over 4,000 participants found that well-designed exercise programs, including Tai Chi, significantly reduce fall-related injuries and the incidence of falls leading to fractures and serious injuries .

Title:

Content: Parkinson’s: Boxing is used as a treatment by patients – 03/08/2022 – Equilibrium

For retired medical assistant Cheryl Karian, 72, boxing is medicine. Karian received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s in 2020. She does not compete or spar [pessoa que auxilia o boxeador, simulando o adversário]but every Tuesday and Thursday he spends an hour training at Main Street Boxing and Muay Thai in downtown Houston, USA.

Before her diagnosis, Karian ran, played tennis, and worked with patients at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. That all changed in the years leading up to her diagnosis, in 2020, when she began to experience cognitive difficulties and frequent falls. “I can’t do what I used to do anymore,” she explained the day after boxing training.

Alongside two other class participants, Karian was shadowboxing, throwing punches in the air, under the direction of professional boxer Austin Trout, known as No Doubt Trout. The training is part of a program called Rock Steady Boxing, which specializes in boxing training for people with Parkinson’s, without physical contact with an opponent.

As Trout issued instructions, Karian threw different punches, dodging and moving his head, while maintaining a boxer’s stance, with his legs wide apart.

Non-contact boxing training has been gaining popularity over the past ten years; 4,000 new gyms sprang up before the pandemic in the US, and more than 5 million Americans donned boxing gloves in 2020.

Boxing’s varied, high-intensity workouts offer a mix of cardiovascular and strength conditioning that improves agility, hand-eye coordination and balance and can be especially beneficial for people with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s disease is caused by a chronic dopamine deficiency, which triggers increasing muscle stiffness, tremors, speech difficulties, fatigue, dizziness, and loss of motor coordination and balance.

Patients’ movements become very slow and small. Falls are a serious problem, especially as symptoms progress. And while there is no cure, or even a way to stop the symptoms, non-contact boxing training appears to offer a way to slow the effects and boost patients’ self-confidence.

“If you train boxing, you’ll see your coordination improve, your agility as well, your balance, ditto,” said Trout, former lightweight world champion. He’s been teaching Rock Steady for four years. “This is a way to fight Parkinson’s disease physically.”

COUNTERINTUITIVE IDEA

Rock Steady Boxing was founded in 2006 by Scott Newman, a promoter from Marion County, Indiana, who found that boxing helped him manage the symptoms of early Parkinson’s disease. At first, it was just him and five other patients training with a former professional boxer, Kristy Follmar.

The strangeness of using boxing as therapy did not go unnoticed by them — after all, the sport has one of the highest rates of concussion and brain injury. While it’s unclear whether a lifetime spent suffering from brain concussions can trigger Parkinson’s, it may increase the risk.

Muhammad Ali, one of boxing’s greatest icons, developed Parkinson’s disease after a professional career in which he was famous for pushing the best heavyweights of his day to exhaustion by receiving repeated punches.

In Rock Steady classes, participants don’t get punched – they just throw them. Ryan Cotton, chief scientific officer at Rock Steady Boxing, said that early on, Newman and Follman worked on his hunch.

At the time, Parkinson’s experts recommended focusing on mobility and balance, but avoiding overexertion. The boxers’ open-legged stance and the shifting of their center of gravity when throwing a punch seemed perfect for training balance and posture.

“There was theory that this should work, but there was no scientific evidence,” Cotton said. “Science has ended up confirming many of the things we intuited and now supports them.”

Since then, research has revealed that many forms of high-intensity exercise, and especially boxing, can slow the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms. Boxing also appears to help with other neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and stroke.

Rock Steady has grown and spawned more than 850 affiliate programs in 17 countries, with training and certification programs for coaches like Trout, who want to work specifically with people with Parkinson’s who have symptoms of varying degrees of severity.

When Cheryl Karian learned she had Parkinson’s, she understood what her future would be like if she wasn’t proactive. She had seen her mother, who also had Parkinson’s, suffering for years as her quality of life deteriorated. But she has found that boxing helps with her balance, hand-eye coordination and mental functioning. “I’ll do as much as I can, for as long as I can,” she said.

FINDING BALANCE

About half of all Parkinson’s patients experience falls in any given year, most of them more than once. Like many boxing instructors, Trout emphasizes with his students the importance of maintaining a stable posture while keeping your hands close to your face and arms bent to protect your body and face.

“This is an exceptional fall prevention workout,” commented San Diego physical therapist Ben Fung, who practices mixed martial arts and specializes in helping patients, including Parkinson’s disease patients, avoid falls.

Many falls occur when a person is reaching for an object or changing direction or speed. Learning to stay in the boxer’s stance can help with maintaining balance, and keeping your hands up can protect your body and face in the event of a fall.

As part of the Rock Steady curriculum, participants practice takedowns. “Ending on the floor is common for Parkinson’s patients,” said Cotton, whose father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a few years after he started working with Rock Steady. “Our boxers still fall, but they’re not paralyzed by fear.”

Less fear can mean fewer falls. “One of the biggest risk factors for falls is whether a person is afraid of falling,” explained Rebecca Martin, a professor of physical therapy at Hanover College in Indiana.

Martin has no ties to Rock Steady Boxing, but he was able to observe its effectiveness. This has led her to incorporate boxing techniques into her work, which includes teaching weekly exercise classes to people with Parkinson’s disease.

A recent study of therapeutic boxing found that Parkinson’s patients who train twice a week report experiencing fewer falls. The number of falls increased during the Covid lockdowns and fell again once isolation was lifted and people were able to return to training. This is something Trout saw firsthand, when many of his students — or “fighters,” as he calls them — came back from lockdowns tighter and shakier than they were before.

OUT OF THE RING

Parkinson’s disease also has psychological effects. As patients lose motor coordination and balance, many begin to doubt their abilities and withdraw, distancing themselves from their friends and family and limiting their going out of the house, for fear of falling.

“Parkinson’s robs people of trust,” Karian said. “You have to work on it to keep your self-confidence.”

In a recent survey of more than 1,700 people with Parkinson’s disease, nearly three-quarters of Rock Steady Boxing participants said the program improved their social lives and more than half said it lessened their fatigue, fear of falling, depression and anxiety.

“Parkinson’s disease is not just a condition that affects motor symptoms, such as the way you move, walk and talk. It can also affect your mood state, causing a person to feel lonely or isolated,” explained the researcher. neurologist Danielle Larson of Northwestern University in Illinois. She is one of the researchers who conducted the survey. Larson also has ties to Rock Steady, but said he now frequently recommends boxing to his patients.

For some of Trout’s fighters, boxing class is the only time of the week when they leave the house. Retired teacher Kathy Smith said that in her gym classes, she was often embarrassed by her lack of skill. At Rock Steady Boxing, she commented, “the people understand and help us adapt to our different skill levels.”

Translation by Clara Allain

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How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It improves the balance of older people.

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Tai Chi was specifically featured in two of these studies, highlighting its role in enhancing balance and coordination—key factors in fall prevention .

How does Tai Chi enhance balance and body coordination?

It incorporates a lot of weight shifting and deliberate walking into its routines.

How does Tai Chi help people with Parkinson's disease?

It can effectively improve the movement symptoms that may cause falls of elderly patients.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It improves the balance of older people.

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

What study was included in trials combining excercise with a cognitive compoent?

Cognitively enhanced tai chi in older adults at risk for dementia.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Physical therapists recommend Tai Chi for its ability to strengthen the systems responsible for balance, such as vision, proprioception, and muscle strength, through slow, controlled movements and a focus on body awareness .

Title:

Content:
Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Chi is the key

Inglis Carré

Special to the Village News

What is Chi? It is a special type of energy. Every living thing has Chi. Inanimate objects have it also. Chi flows in our bodies through pathways called meridians and it can be enhanced by special exercises, massage, and meditation. Chi also surrounds us. It is in the very air we breathe.

The Chinese character for Chi represents steam, vapor, or mist rising upward from a pot of rice, which is connected to the concept of nourishment. The vapor or mist calls to mind breathing, which can be controlled to facilitate the flow of Chi in the body. The word "Chi" or "Qi" can be translated as air, energy, or spirit, and the word "Gong" or "kung" means achievement, skill, or work.

Recommendations about cultivating and managing Chi can be found in several cultures. The concept of Chi dates from the ancient Chinese Book of Changes from about 2000 B.C. and has come down to the present day to become "The Force" in "Star Wars." It has been preserved, honored, and known by many names as it has traveled through time.

When we practice the gentle arts of Tai Chi and Chi Gong with attention to magnifying and moving the Chi, we enjoy many health benefits. Among these benefits are enhanced flexibility, balance, strength, cardiovascular health, increase bone density, relaxation of the mind and emotional balance. According to Eastern wisdom, our health improves when we have more energy circulating in our bodies and our ability to handle stress increases.

Whether we are learning Tai Chi or Chi Gong, there are guidelines involving posture, breathing, and mindfulness that help us to circulate the Chi energy. Blockages of the Chi flow can be caused by straining too much in our exercises, being under stress, or holding on to negative emotions. But being totally relaxed and in the present moment, we encourage a connection with the Chi energy which is the key to optimal physical and emotional health.

What does Chi feel like? It manifests in many ways. There could be tingling in your hands or feet. For some people, it is an inner feeling of wellness, wholeness, and calm. There can be a sense of aliveness and awareness that travels out into our surroundings, enriching our interactions with others, and our creative endeavors. Think of Chi as a key to the door between the world of the senses and the world of the spirit.

May the force be with you!

Inglis Carré is a Tai Chi practitioner certified by the American Tai Chi and Qigong Association. She has been teaching Tai Chi and Qigong since 2020. She also has a background in Kenpo Karate and Hung Gar style Kung Fu.

How does Tai Chi help people with Parkinson's disease?

It can effectively improve the movement symptoms that may cause falls of elderly patients.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It improves the balance of older people.

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Tai Chi’s benefits extend beyond physical stability.

It has been shown to improve global cognition scores in older adults at risk for dementia, suggesting that it also supports cognitive health, which can indirectly reduce fall risk by enhancing attention and executive function .

Title:

Content: Exercise programs meant to prevent falls in seniors may also help prevent injuries caused by falls, according to a new review.

Fall-related injuries are common among seniors and a major cause of long-term pain and disability. They also increase the risk of having to go to a nursing home and have a high economic cost.

The new findings, published online Oct. 29 in the journal bmj.com, suggest that "reducing the risk of falling and improving protective responses during a fall may be an important and feasible means of preventing fractures and other serious injuries in the elderly," the study authors wrote in a journal news release.

Well-designed exercise programs can prevent falls in seniors living at home, but there is a lack of evidence on whether such programs can help prevent fall-related injuries, said French researchers Fabienne El-Khoury and colleagues.

In this review, they analyzed 17 studies that looked at whether fall-prevention exercises lowered seniors' risk of fractures and other injuries caused by falls. More than 4,000 participants were involved in all.

Tai Chi was the exercise in two of the studies, but most of them used gait, balance, strength and functional training, which involves workouts that help people do normal daily activities.

Most of the programs reduced fall-related injuries and appeared to significantly curb falls that lead to fractures, serious injuries and medical care.

Balance training was emphasized in all of the exercises that were effective in preventing falls, the researchers noted.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about older adults and falls.

Latest videos

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

What has a study that includes the cognitively enhanced Tai Chi found out?

The cognitively enhanced Tai Chi group outperformed other groups on improvements in global cognition scores.

What health advantages have been linked to regular practice of Tai Chi?

What study was included in trials combining excercise with a cognitive compoent?

Cognitively enhanced tai chi in older adults at risk for dementia.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

The psychological benefits of Tai Chi include reduced stress, improved emotional balance, and decreased fear of falling, all of which contribute to greater confidence and willingness to remain active .

Title:

Content: Lifestyle Interventions and Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's and Dementia

— "Without any change, the number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease could more than double"

MedpageToday

Cognitive decline in Alzheimer's and other dementias may be delayed for some at-risk older adults, recent clinical trials have suggested.

The ACHIEVE study, for example, reported that hearing aids cut the rate of cognitive decline by 48% over 3 years in older adults who had a high risk of dementia. And in a randomized controlled trial of people with mild cognitive impairment or self-reported memory concerns, cognitively enhanced tai-chi led to improved global cognition scores.

"Currently, two-thirds of Americans have at least one major risk factor for dementia," said Heather Snyder, PhD, of the Alzheimer's Association in Chicago.

"The need for effective risk reduction strategies to help all communities grows larger by the day," Snyder stated. "Without any change, the number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease could more than double by mid-century."

In 2015, the FINGER study in Finland was the first randomized controlled trial to show it was possible to delay cognitive decline using a multidomain lifestyle intervention.

In the U.S., the POINTER study is evaluating multiple ways to protect cognition in 2,000 at-risk older adults. "Recruiting for the clinical trial was successfully completed in March 2023," Snyder said. "The study is expected to begin reporting results in summer 2025."

"U.S. POINTER community-based teams recruited nearly 30% of participants from communities that are traditionally underrepresented in research, including racially and ethnically minoritized individuals and those from rural areas," she added.

New Clinical Trial Data

About 40% of dementia cases may be prevented or delayed by modifying 12 risk factors, according to a 2020 report from the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care.

In the past year, several trials have shown that lifestyle interventions -- notably ones involving physical exercise or hearing aids -- could delay dementia onset. Two trials have combined exercise with a cognitive component, including a study of cognitively enhanced tai chi in older adults at risk for dementia, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

"Research has shown that both physical and mental activity may attenuate age-related declines in cognitive function and dual task activities, but combined physical and mental challenges may be more effective than either alone," said study co-author Peter Harmer, PhD, MPH, of the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene.

Cognitively enhanced tai chi was designed to synergistically stimulate neuroplasticity, Harmer noted. The regimen included an emphasis on performing properly despite an interfering mental or motor task, following instructions that required recalling names and detailed steps, and distinguishing correct from miscued instructions.

The study randomized older adults with mild cognitive impairment or self-reported memory concerns to stretching, standard tai chi, or cognitively enhanced tai chi for 1 hour semi-weekly for 24 weeks. The cognitively enhanced tai chi group outperformed other groups on improvements in both global cognition scores and dual-task performance while walking, with effects persisting at 48 weeks.

The SYNERGIC trial, published in JAMA Network Open, took a different approach to combining physical exercise and cognitive training. SYNERGIC randomized older adults with mild cognitive impairment to physical exercise with or without cognitive training and vitamin D supplementation for 20 weeks.

Overall, those who received aerobic-resistance exercises with sequential computerized cognitive training had improved cognition, but some results were inconsistent.

The multidomain intervention effect was larger than the improvement from exercise alone, reported Manuel Montero-Odasso, MD, PhD, of the Parkwood Institute in London, Ontario, and co-authors, and vitamin D supplementation showed no significant benefit. In several arms of the trial, cognitive improvements diminished slightly at 12 months, but did not revert to baseline levels.

Another intervention that showed promise was the use of hearing aids. Hearing loss is treatable in later life, which makes it an important public health target to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, noted Frank Lin, MD, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and colleagues who reported the findings of the ACHIEVE trial in The Lancet.

ACHIEVE assigned participants to one of two interventions -- either hearing aids or a health education program. Both groups received follow-up visits every 6 months, and cognitive tests were conducted every year for 3 years.

The trial's main analysis showed no difference in the rate of change in cognitive functioning between the hearing aid group and the education group. In a pre-specified analysis of participants with high risk for future dementia, however, cognitive decline was reduced over 3 years in those assigned to wear hearing aids compared with those who received health education.

Policies to Help Reduce Cognitive Decline

Research about Alzheimer's and dementia risk factors is evolving, and Lancet Commission researcher Gill Livingston, MD, of the University College London in England, is optimistic that policymakers will continue to use new insights to help reduce global cognitive decline.

Since 2020, several countries have taken steps to address modifiable risk factors, Livingston noted. "U.S. policy has changed, and many countries and the World Health Organization have issued new policy documents," she said.

In the U.S., the 2023 update to the National Alzheimer's Project Act included new risk reduction strategies, Livingston pointed out. The CDC also extended its Healthy Brain Initiative program with state and local health officials.

An updated Lancet Commission report about dementia is under review and should be published this year, Livingston said.

Disclosures

Snyder had no conflicts of interest.

Harmer reported no conflicts of interest.

Livingston had no conflicts of interest.

Title:

Content: Homepage

A financial analyst explains how tai chi 'stress bending' helped her avoid burnout in her high-stakes career

  • Former financial analyst Shirley Chock said tai chi helped her thrive in a career prone to burnout.
  • She now teaches tai chi full-time to help others boost their focus and energy while reducing stress.
  • Tai chi has been linked to a longer life, lower risk of illness, and better mental health, research suggests.
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Former Yale financial analyst Shirley Chock is no stranger to stress.

Throughout her career, she saw her peers crumbling from the pressure of juggling a heavy workload and high-stakes assignments while trying to keep their health and their personal lives afloat.

In contrast, Chock found herself much better off, working her way up through the ranks to a manager position and even netting a Working Mother of the Year award, with energy to spare.

Her "secret" to success? Tai chi, a traditional Chinese martial art known for slow, gentle movements, which she said helped her stress-proof her routine.

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"I realized I was applying what I was learning in the martial art to my career and my life," she told Business Insider. "It was like I discovered a secret scroll because no one talked about tai chi in this way."

Tai chi was the key to staying healthy, focused, and energized in a career that left colleagues burned out, according to Chock.

"They just seemed like they were beaten down and facing obstacles all the time. And it was a much easier road for me to navigate the career," she said. "I had energy at the end of the day."

The experience was so profound that Chock left her finance career to teach the art full time with Aiping Tai Chi, a Connecticut-based school with a growing social media presence.

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Now her goal is to create an "army of stress-benders," demonstrating how to use tai chi to reduce stress, improve focus, and boost physical and mental health even (or especially) in a fast-paced, ambitious lifestyle.

"It helps you to stay centered so that you don't get distracted by all of these things that are trying to pull you away from your focus," Chock said.

How tai chi can make you mentally and physically stronger as you age

Chock found tai chi by accident. She initially used the deliberate, graceful movements of the practice to recover from an injury while training and competing in mixed martial arts and kung fu.

"I thought it would just be a recovery thing for me because I really wanted to do the cool acrobatic moves," Chock said. "I had this misconception that had was for old people like everybody else."

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It's true that tai chi has some serious benefits for healthy aging, helping to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability. Evidence also suggests it can help lower blood pressure, even in younger people. Practicing tai chi has been linked to better wellbeing, lower risk of anxiety, and fewer symptoms of depression in some studies.

But Chock was most excited about how learning tai chi was teaching her about habits to improve focus and energy in the rest of her life, and became hooked on the challenge of mastering the subtly of the art.

For instance, the tai chi concept of allowing your body to flow with gravity instead of resisting it beautifully illustrates how you can choose to respond to life challenges too, prioritizing what matters instead of becoming distracted by conflicts that ultimately aren't worth your energy.

Practicing stress management and focus through movement not only gives you the physical benefits of the exercise, but a deeper understanding of what it means than you might get from picking up a self-help book.

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"You might learn it in theory, but then when you need to apply it, you don't actually have it," Chock said. "Tai chi is a way for you to understand these philosophies in life by learning them through your body. In that moment where you're overloaded, the body just knows what to do."

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How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It improves the balance of older people.

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

What does Ruth Taylor-Piliae of University of Arizona's College of Nursin say about Tai Chi?

She tells NPR that Tai Chi's gentle, slow movements and controlled breathing tend to activate what's known as the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes the body during times of stress.

What health advantages have been linked to regular practice of Tai Chi?

Lower stress levels.
An overall sense of well-being.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

How doesTai Chi help prevent falls for older people?

It improves the balance of older people.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What did studies show about Tai Chi's health benefit?

It improves the balance of older people.

It limits the danger of falls among the elderly.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

What does Ruth Taylor-Piliae of University of Arizona's College of Nursin say about Tai Chi?

She tells NPR that Tai Chi's gentle, slow movements and controlled breathing tend to activate what's known as the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes the body during times of stress.

What health advantages have been linked to regular practice of Tai Chi?

Lower stress levels.
An overall sense of well-being.

Why did the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention advised elderly people to practice Tai Chi?

Because it can prevent falls that may result in fracture.

Group classes offer social engagement, further supporting mental health and reducing isolation .

Title:

Content: There were 2,096 press releases posted in the last 24 hours and 244,548 in the last 365 days.

Sequoia Living Invites Region to Help Promote Health & Well-Being by Reducing Fall Risk for Older Adults

Sequoia Living's Logo

Sequoia Living will be hosting Dr. Chris Thompson on Sept. 21, join us for a free webinar on incorporating an exercise routine to reduce fall risk.

With over 25% of older adults accidentally falling each year, there is an opportunity to help people in the greater Bay Area live a healthier life and avoid a devastating health event. ”
— says Sara McVey, CEO and President of Sequoia Living
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, September 15, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ -- San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit, invites people and organizations in the region to adopt a healthy mindset and become familiar with fall prevention strategies. During National Fall Prevention Month and Awareness Week, September 18-24, Sequoia Living also encourages individuals to recognize and aid an older adult who can benefit from increased exercise, better nutrition, hazard reduction in the home, and community support.

To educate the public, its residents, and participants of San Francisco Senior Centers, Sequoia Living will present Dr. Chris Thompson on September 21 at 2 pm for a one-hour Zoom seminar on how to incorporate an exercise routine to reduce fall risk. For a resource list and more information about falling, please visit: www.SequoiaLiving.org/stopfalls.

“With over 25% of older adults accidentally falling each year, there is an opportunity to help people in the greater Bay Area live a healthier life and avoid a devastating health event,” says Sara McVey, CEO and President of Sequoia Living.

According to the National Council on Aging, accidental falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for people over 65 in the US. Falls are preventable and not a normal part of aging. Over 3 million seniors were treated in an emergency room from a fall last year, resulting in more than $50 billion in medical costs.

While the cost of treatment is high for these injuries, the pain associated can be excruciating and reduce a person’s mobility and quality of life. Through exercise, eating healthy, knowing your surroundings, and having community support, you and your loved ones are being proactive in your health and longevity.

How can you help reduce the risk of an accidental fall for a loved one?

- Encourage them to review all prescriptions and over-the-counter supplements with their pharmacist and primary care doctor. The combinations of both -- over-the-counter and prescribed drugs can cause drowsiness and dizziness which can increase the risk of an accidental fall.
- Ensure they are hydrated and are getting enough protein, calcium, and vitamin D.
- Remove trip hazards such as throw rugs and extension cords.
- Make sure lighting is illuminating paths in and around the home, and that all burnt bulbs are replaced.

At Sequoias Living, fall prevention is a continuous endeavor for the safety of our residents and staff members. Our mission is to provide homes and services for healthy aging. We strive to create stimulating, joyful living environments that support and enrich the lives of older adults.

About Sequoia Living
Sequoia Living, a Bay Area nonprofit since 1958, provides older adults with retirement communities and services designed to support and enrich lives. In 2021, Sequoia Living served more than 7,000 older adults through the organization's four life plan communities, three affordable housing communities, two senior centers, and community services programs.

Lola Rain
Sequoia Living
LRain@sequoialiving.org
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Tai Chi is accessible and adaptable, making it suitable for individuals with varying levels of mobility and fitness .

Title:

Content: Seniors exercise at YMCA to improve health

Published: May. 31, 2023 at 2:08 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - One of the keys to living a long life is having a healthy lifestyle.

Seniors at the YMCA did exercises tailored to their fitness levels Wednesday, May 31. This included tai chi, an exercise that focuses on mind and body, as well as helps with balance.

“It has completely changed my life. It has made me stronger in my body: I’m straighter, stronger, I can do all of my daily activities like laundry and dishwashing, and everything else that I have to do,” volunteer Palmer Gard said.

The YMCA offers programs and classes for all ages.

Do you have a story idea? Send us your news tip here.

What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What benefits does Tai Chi haves for healthy aging?

It helps to improve factors linked to a longer life like balance, mobility, and stability.

What do orthopedic specialists say about the benefits of learning Tai Chi?

Excercises like the horse stance in Tai Chi that can help prevent falls.

Its gentle, low-impact nature allows older adults to participate safely, and its emphasis on posture, breathing, and mindfulness promotes both physical and emotional well-being .

Title:

Content: SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

We compile citations and summaries of about 400 new articles every week.
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Journal Article

Citation

Alenazi AM, Alhwoaimel NA, Alqahtani BA, Alshehri MM, Alhowimel AS, Khunti K, Alghamdi MS. Risk Manag. Healthc. Policy 2024; 17: 1407-1416.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Dove Press)

DOI

10.2147/RMHP.S463570

PMID

38828104

PMCID

PMC11141721

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested an association between falls and the presence of Multiple Long-Term Conditions (MLTC) or disabilities. However, there is limited understanding of how these factors independently or collectively contribute to the risk of falls and fear of falling among community-dwelling adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the independent association between MLTC and the presence of disability with the risk of falls among community adults.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 324 adults (age ≥ 50). Demographic and clinical data included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), MLTC (≥ two chronic diseases) risk of fall (ie, history of fall in the previous 12-months, number of falls, and recurrent falls). The Barthel Index and Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) were used to assess disability and fear of fall, respectively.

RESULTS: MLTC (Odds Ratio (OR) 2.50, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [1.26, 4.95], p=0.009), and disability (OR 1.71, 95% CI [1.04, 2.79], p = 0.034) were independently associated with history of falls. MLTC (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) 2.87, 95% CI [1.93, 4.29], p < 0.001) and disability (IRR 1.86 95% CI [1.46, 2.36], p < 0.001) were independently associated with an increased number of falls. MLTC (OR 4.50, 95% CI [1.78, 11.36], p = 0.001) and disability (OR 2.82, 95% CI [1.58, 5.05], p < 0.001) were independently associated with recurrent falls. MLTC (B = 6.45, p < 0.001) and disability (B = 3.05, p = 0.025) were independently associated with increased fear of falling.

CONCLUSION: This study indicated that both MLTC and disability are independently associated with falls, number of falls and fear of falling in this population.

Language: en

Keywords

falling; Saudi; multimorbidity; disabilities; functional limitations; impairments; multiple chronic diseases

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What are some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi regularly?

What does Ruth Taylor-Piliae of University of Arizona's College of Nursin say about Tai Chi?

She tells NPR that Tai Chi's gentle, slow movements and controlled breathing tend to activate what's known as the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes the body during times of stress.

What health advantages have been linked to regular practice of Tai Chi?