Elderly individuals who engage in Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese combat practice, have a decreased possibility of stumbling as opposed to those who partake in other forms of physical activity, as per a study carried out by scholars at Shanghai University of Sport and disclosed in JAMA Internal Medicine.
The research encompassed about 1,200 senior citizens aged 70 or above, with nearly 700 of them joining in the study. These participants faced restricted movement and were prone to falls owing to a medical professional’s diagnosis and/or a tumble in the previous year.
The subjects were split into three categories: two 60-minute workout sessions weekly for half a year with arbitrary allocation to either Tai Chi, a regimen incorporating balance, cardio, power, and suppleness workouts, or stretching. After six months, 49% of the group documented a cumulative of 733 incidents of falls.
Tai Chi (also referred to as tai ji quan) emerged as the most efficient in diminishing the frequency of tumbles, boasting a 58% superiority over the stretching regimen and a 32% edge over the workout regimen blending a mix of activities. Though the diverse exercise scheme exhibited superior outcomes in boosting stability and lowering fall rates in comparison to mere stretching, Tai Chi ultimately showcased significantly more outstanding performances.
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