title: Tai Chi's effects on health-related fitness of low-income older adults.
abstract: Tai chi (TC) has been shown to positively influence health-related fitness (HRF) of elderly participants by affording them a means to increase musculoskeletal strength. The objective of this study was to examine TC intervention effects on HRF and whether ethnic groups not culturally related to TC experienced a barrier to participation in a community-based program for low-income older adults. Seventy-eight older mixed-ethnicity adults (age 55 and older) who were not culturally affiliated with TC were recruited for this study. HRF measures were taken before and after a 16-week TC program that offered seven sessions per week. Significant improvements were found in upper and lower musculoskeletal fitness and partial curl-ups, with TC being embraced by the participants. These results suggest that TC can be effective for improving HRF and that non-TC culturally related ethnic groups did not experience a barrier to participation in an older low-socioeconomic population sample.
authors.affiliation: York University, North York, ON, Canada. jmanson@yorku.ca
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manson
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ritvo
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ardern
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jamnik
authors.forename: Hala
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D010809:Physical Fitness; D004856:Postural Balance; D011203:Poverty; D026302:Tai Ji