Not falling for it
New study shows that a specific type of exercise can reduce the risk of falls in older people.
Even if you’ve got a completely clean bill of health unmarred by family history of diseases like Alzheimer’s or cancer, there’s still one fear about getting older that you probably haven’t figured out a way to escape: falling. It sounds like such a minor thing, but the truth is, falls are one of the leading causes of death in people over the age of 65. So it’s a fear that’s just as valid as any of the other serious diseases that often accompany aging. But just like those other causes of death, there’s a completely simple and natural way to avoid those potentially deadly falls — tai chi.
For those of you who may not be familiar with it, tai chi is a Chinese martial art. But unlike the types of martial arts you’ve seen in movies — things like karate and tae kwon do — tai chi involves slow, fluid movements of the body. And in an article published in the July issue of the American Journal of Public health, researchers say that implementing tai chi programs at senior centers in Oregon led to a significant reduction in falls experienced by people that attended.
The study participants attended two hour-long tai chi classes per week for 12 weeks. At the end of the trial, the researchers found that all of the participants showed improvements not only in the reduced number of falls, but also in balance (which likely goes hand-in-hand with the fall reduction), and in overall “functional independence,” which is technical-speak for “being able to perform daily tasks without help.”
So even if you don’t exercise regularly, tai chi is certainly worth trying out: The low- impact movements are perfect for exercise beginners (and for those of us who don’t particularly relish the idea of high-intensity workouts).
And it should be relatively easy to find a class near you: Tai chi has become a common offering at many community centers and health clubs over the past few years. Check your local facilities to see if they offer classes.
Source:
“Tai chi program helps prevent falls among older adults,” Science Daily (www.sciencedaily.com), 8/13/08
