Falls are one of the most common causes of injury in older adults.
As a family caregiver, you may have thought about how you can keep your senior relative from falling. There are lots of things you can, and should, do, including making safety modifications in the home and having them evaluated by a doctor for fall risk. Exercise is also important in fall prevention. New research suggests that Tai Chi may be the most effective form of exercise to keep older adults from falling—even better than strength training or aerobics.
About the Tai Chi Study
-Tai Chi has been around for centuries. It is an ancient Chinese practice that involves slow movements as practitioners go from one posture to the next. The study involved 670 people from the state of Oregon who were of an average age of 78.
-The researchers modified the typical Tai Chi practice to tailor it to older adults seeking fall prevention benefits. Usually, Tai Chi involves more than 100 different postures, which can be overwhelming for some seniors. The researchers pared their routines down to just eight movements that were most likely to keep older adults from falling.
-The study participants were divided into three groups. One group performed the Tai Chi program. The second participated in traditional exercises. The third did a routine that included only stretching. The study spanned a six-month period. The results of the study showed that the group who practiced the modified Tai Chi program had a 58 percent lower risk of falling than the group that only did stretches. That was better than the traditional exercise group that had only a 40 percent lower risk.
-The researchers believe that Tai Chi helps prevent falls because it involves the older adult moving in all directions instead of just from side to side or back and forth. It also requires the person to move through many postures that change their center of gravity. Therefore, if a senior who practices Tai Chi starts to fall, they are more equipped to modify their posture to stop themselves from falling.
Learning Tai Chi
Probably the best way for your aging relative to learn Tai Chi is by taking a class. An instructor can help them to move their body correctly. In addition, attending a class gives the person a place to practice where there are fewer distractions. And, they get the added benefit of social interaction with their classmates. However, there are also a number of DVDs and online videos the senior can try at home.
Senior care providers can help older adults to find a Tai Chi class in their community. Once they find a class, the senior care provider can offer transportation to and from the class. But, your loved one decides they simply want to try Tai Chi at home, a senior care provider can monitor them while they exercise to keep them safer.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elder Care in Sunny Vale, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855
Sources
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/
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