Effects of home-based Tai Chi training on balance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine effects of home-based Tai Chi training on balance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Thirty-four older adults with MCI were randomly assigned to the Tai Chi group (n=17; mean age 68.8±5.56 years) and control group (n=17; mean age 65.29±5.49 years). Both groups were age and gender matched. Participants in Tai Chi group practiced Tai Chi at home for 50 minutes per session, 3 times a week for 12 consecutive weeks. Postural sway was evaluated under 4 conditions (stand with eyes open on floor, eyes closed on floor, eyes open on foam, eyes closed on foam). Trunk coordination stability was evaluated using Lord sway meter. All evaluations were performed before and after 12-week period. Student’s t-tests were conducted to compare differences of each outcome measure between and within groups. Significance level was set at p ≤0.05. Results: After 12-week Tai Chi training, the Tai Chi group demonstrated significant improvement from baseline in all outcome variables ( p 0.05). Due to baseline differences between groups, outcome measures were normalized to their baseline values for between-group comparisons at 12-week period. Results showed that postural sway tested while standing on floor under both eyes open and eyes closed conditions as well as trunk coordination stability significantly improved for the Tai Chi group as compared to controls ( p 0.05). Specifically, there was a trend for participants in Tai Chi group to decrease postural sway from baseline more than those in control group when tested with eyes open on foam ( p =0.061) while there was no significant difference in postural sway with eyes closed on foam conditions between groups ( p =0.242). Conclusion: Home-based Tai Chi training for 50 minutes per session, 3 times per week for 12 consecutive weeks could improve balance in older adults with MCI. Bull Chiang Mai Assoc Med Sci 2016; 49(1): 123-133