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Tai Chi Beyond Balance and Fall Prevention: Health Benefits and Its Potential Role in Combatting Social Isolation in the Aging Population

  • Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation (O. Addison, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Tai Chi (TC) is expanding as a holistic intervention. The purpose of this paper is to provide a historical perspective on TC and how its original preventative tenants can be applied today. TC can go far beyond its accepted use for balance and falls prevention and has benefits for a wide variety of physical, mental, and social health conditions common with aging.

Recent Findings

Using current (last 5 years) evidence from PubMed (meta-analyses and systematic reviews), the merits of TC as an integrative intervention and preventative tool are analyzed by key causes of mortality and morbidity found in older adults.

Summary

TC is a readily adaptable exercise accessible to a wide variety of ages and skill levels. Traditional free-standing TC can be modified to seated, standing with side support, and or walker support versions. TC can be used in individual or group community-based settings to promote wellness.

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  1. School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin, 4180 Medical Sciences Center, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Kristine M. Hallisy

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Kristine Hallisy declares no conflict of interest.

While a long-term proponent of the Tai Chi Fundamentals® Program, the author is not an employee of the business entity known as Tai Chi Health. While she does profit from teaching TC workshops, she does not received royalties from the book Tai Chi Fundamentals® Program–The Adapted Program with Optional Side Support, Walker Support, and Seated Versions published in collaboration with Tricia Yu (2015).

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Hallisy, K.M. Tai Chi Beyond Balance and Fall Prevention: Health Benefits and Its Potential Role in Combatting Social Isolation in the Aging Population. Curr Geri Rep 7, 37–48 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13670-018-0233-5

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