Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health , College Station, TX , USA.
Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, The University of Georgia College of Public Health , Athens, GA , USA.
Front Public Health. 2015 Apr 27;2:258. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00258. eCollection 2014.
Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance (TCMBB) is an evidence-based fall prevention exercise program being disseminated in selected communities through state injury prevention programs. This study: (1) describes the personal characteristics of TCMBB participants; (2) quantifies participants' functional and self-reported health status at enrollment; and (3) measures changes in participants' functional and self-reported health status post-intervention. There were 421 participants enrolled in 36 TCMBB programs delivered in Colorado, New York, and Oregon. Of the 209 participants who completed both baseline enrollment and post-intervention surveys, the average age of participants was 75.3 (SD ± 8.2) years. Most participants were female (81.3%), non-Hispanic (96.1%), White (94.1%), and described themselves as in excellent or very good health (52.2%). Paired t-test and general estimating equation models assessed changes over the 3-month program period. Pre- and post-assessment self-reported surveys and objective functional data [Timed Up and Go (TUG) test] were collected. On average, TUG test scores decreased (p < 0.001) for all participants; however, the decrease was most noticeable among high-risk participants (mean decreased from 18.5 to 15.7 s). The adjusted odds ratio of reporting feeling confident that a participant could keep themselves from falling was five times greater after completing the program. TCMBB, which addresses gait and balance problems, can be an effective way to reduce falls among the older adult population. By helping older adults maintain their functional abilities, TCMBB can help community-dwelling older adults continue to live independently.
太极平衡操（Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance，TCMBB）是一个基于证据的预防跌倒的运动项目，通过州伤害预防计划在选定的社区中传播。本研究：（1）描述 TCMBB 参与者的个人特征；（2）量化参与者在入组时的功能和自我报告的健康状况；（3）测量参与者在干预后的功能和自我报告的健康状况变化。在科罗拉多州、纽约州和俄勒冈州进行的 36 个 TCMBB 项目中，共有 421 名参与者入组。在完成基线入组和干预后调查的 209 名参与者中，参与者的平均年龄为 75.3（SD ± 8.2）岁。大多数参与者为女性（81.3%）、非西班牙裔（96.1%）、白人（94.1%），并自我描述为身体状况极好或非常好（52.2%）。配对 t 检验和广义估计方程模型评估了 3 个月项目期间的变化。在项目期间，收集了预先和事后自我报告的调查和客观功能数据[计时起立行走（Timed Up and Go，TUG）测试]。平均而言，所有参与者的 TUG 测试得分均降低（p<0.001）；但高风险参与者的降幅最为明显（平均从 18.5 秒降至 15.7 秒）。完成项目后，报告对自己能够避免跌倒有信心的参与者的调整后比值比增加了五倍。TCMBB 针对步态和平衡问题，是减少老年人群跌倒的有效方法。通过帮助老年人保持其功能能力，TCMBB 可以帮助居住在社区中的老年人继续独立生活。
