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Effect of the Tai Chi Fall Prevention Program for Elderly Women Living in the Community

지역사회거주 여성노인에게 적용한 타이치 낙상예방 프로그램의 효과

  • Park, In Sook (College of Nursing, Chungnam National University) ;
  • So, Hee Young (College of Nursing, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Song, Rhayun (College of Nursing, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Kim, Hyunli (College of Nursing, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Ahn, Sukhee (College of Nursing, Chungnam National University)
  • Received : 2012.09.28
  • Accepted : 2012.11.14
  • Published : 2012.12.31

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to examine the effects of Tai Chi fall prevention program on risk factors for fall, fear of falling, and quality of life among elderly women living in the community. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with non-equivalent control group was used. Sixty participants were recruited from 4 senior citizen centers in a city. The 1-hour Tai Chi fall prevention program was provided three times a week for 6 months to the experimental group. Risk factors for fall including fracture risk and bone mineral density, fear of falling, and quality of life were measured at the baseline and at 6 months. Results: Participants were 75 years old in average. At the completion of 6 month program, the experimental group showed lower fracture risks, less fear of falling, and higher scores in several domains of quality of life than the control group, after controlling for the pretest scores, fall experience, and regular exercise habit. Conclusion: The Tai Chi fall prevention program was safely applied to elderly women with improvement in fracture risk, fear of falling, and several domains of quality of life. Future study is necessary to confirm the longer effect of the Tai Chi program for the prevention of fall episodes.

Keywords

References

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