title: The effects of practicing sitting Tai Chi on balance control and eye-hand coordination in the older adults: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 3 months of sitting Tai Chi training on the sitting balance control and eye-hand coordination of older adults subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomly assigned 59 older adults from four residential care facilities to either sitting Tai Chi group or mobilizing exercises group as control. The sitting Tai Chi group underwent 3 months of training with a total of 36 sessions (1 hour/session, 3 sessions/week). The outcome measures included sitting balance tests (testing sequential weight shifting and forward reaching in a sitting position) and eye-hand coordination tests (reaction time, movement time and accuracy in finger pointing task).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Tai Chi practitioners showed significant improvement in their sequential weight shifting while sitting (improved by 29.0%, p ≤ 0.05) and in their maximum reaching distance from a sitting position (improved by 21.2%, p ≤ 0.05). No such improvements were found in the control group. In the eye-hand coordination test, the sitting Tai Chi practitioners had significant improvements in accuracy (improved by 17.3%, p ≤ 0.05). Also, no improvement was found in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate 3-months of sitting Tai Chi training can improve sitting balance and accuracy in finger pointing task in the older adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Traditional Tai Chi poses difficulties for older adults with poor standing balance. This pilot study showed that a 3 months sitting Tai Chi training can improve sitting balance and accuracy in the finger pointing task in the older adults. Sitting Tai Chi can be a therapy option for older adults with poor standing balance.
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hong Kong , China and.
authors: Ken Y T
authors: KY
authors: Lee
authors: Christina W Y
authors: CW
authors: Hui-Chan
authors: William W N
authors: WW
authors: Tsang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D026302:Tai Ji / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Balance; Tai Chi; exercise; eye-hand coordination; older adults