title: Analysis of static and dynamic balance in healthy elderly practitioners of Tai Chi Chuan versus ballroom dancing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether Tai Chi Chuan or ballroom dancing promotes better performance with respect to postural balance, gait, and postural transfer among elderly people.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 76 elderly individuals who were divided into two groups: the Tai Chi Chuan Group and the Dance Group. The subjects were tested using the NeuroCom Balance Master¯ force platform system with the following protocols: static balance tests (the Modified Clinical Tests of Sensory Interaction on Balance and Unilateral Stance) and dynamic balance tests (the Walk Across Test and Sit-to-stand Transfer Test).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented a lower sway velocity on a firm surface with open and closed eyes, as well as on a foam surface with closed eyes. In the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Unilateral Stance, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented a lower sway velocity with open eyes, whereas the Dance Group presented a lower sway velocity with closed eyes. In the Walk Across Test, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented faster walking speeds than those of the Dance Group. In the Sit-to-stand Transfer Test, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented shorter transfer times from the sitting to the standing position, with less sway in the final standing position.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The elderly individuals who practiced Tai Chi Chuan had better bilateral balance with eyes open on both types of surfaces compared with the Dance Group. The Dance Group had better unilateral postural balance with eyes closed. The Tai Chi Chuan Group had faster walking speeds, shorter transfer times, and better postural balance in the final standing position during the Sit-to-stand Test.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ortopedia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Miguel Antônio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rahal
authors.affiliation: Movement Studies Laboratory, Instituto de Ortopedia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angélica Castilho
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: Movement Studies Laboratory, Instituto de Ortopedia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felix Ricardo
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Andrusaitis
authors.affiliation: Movement Studies Laboratory, Instituto de Ortopedia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thuam Silva
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Movement Studies Laboratory, Instituto de Ortopedia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danielli Souza
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Speciali
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ortopedia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Júlia Maria D Andréa
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Greve
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ortopedia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Eugênio Garcez
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Leme
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003614:Dance Therapy; D003615:Dancing / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D026302:Tai Ji; D013997:Time Factors