title: Effects of Tai Chi training on postural control and cognitive performance while dual tasking - a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This single-blinded, randomized controlled study investigated the effects of practicing Tai Chi on the postural control and cognitive performance of older women while dual tasking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-dwelling older women (n=31) were recruited from community centers. They were randomized to Tai Chi group (n=15, 12-form Yang style Tai Chi training) or a control group (n=16, general interest classes) for 16 weeks. Balance was tested in single leg stance after stepping down from a step, with and without a concurrent auditory response task (auditory Stroop test). Balance was measured by total sway path and sway area of subject's center of pressure (COP). The reaction time and the correctness of the auditory Stroop test were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tai Chi subjects made fewer errors in auditory Stroop test under dual-task condition after Tai Chi training (p=0.01). They also showed significant decreases in the COP path (p<0.05) and the COP area (p<0.05) in their postural control after training in both single- and dual-task conditions. The subjects in the control group did not show any significant improvement in dual-task condition after the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tai Chi training improves the cognitive and postural control performance of older women when dual tasking.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: K C
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6968-5760
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.forename: Siu N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Christina W Y
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hui-Chan
authors.forename: William W N
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Tsang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D026302:Tai Ji / Q000379:methods*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis