Four weeks of intensive tai chi training improves balance control in elderly subjects.

Researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University studied the effects of intensive tai chi training on balance control in healthy elderly adults. 49 participants were assigned to either general education or supervised tai chi for 1.5 hours, 6 times per week for 8 weeks. Balance was tested before the start of training, after 4 and 8 weeks during training and 4 weeks after training ended. The tai chi group showed significant improvements in balance compared to the control group even after 4 weeks. Furthermore these improvements were maintained 4 weeks after the training ended.

Abstract