OBJECTIVE:To determine whether Tai Chi Chuan or ballroom dancing promotes better performance with respect to postural balance, gait, and postural transfer among elderly people.METHODS:We evaluated 76 elderly individuals who were divided into two groups: the Tai Chi Chuan Group and the Dance Group. The subjects were tested using the NeuroCom Balance Master® force platform system with the following protocols: static balance tests (the Modified Clinical Tests of Sensory Interaction on Balance and Unilateral Stance) and dynamic balance tests (the Walk Across Test and Sit-to-stand Transfer Test).RESULTS:In the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented a lower sway velocity on a firm surface with open and closed eyes, as well as on a foam surface with closed eyes. In the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Unilateral Stance, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented a lower sway velocity with open eyes, whereas the Dance Group presented a lower sway velocity with closed eyes. In the Walk Across Test, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented faster walking speeds than those of the Dance Group. In the Sit-to-stand Transfer Test, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented shorter transfer times from the sitting to the standing position, with less sway in the final standing position.CONCLUSION:The elderly individuals who practiced Tai Chi Chuan had better bilateral balance with eyes open on both types of surfaces compared with the Dance Group. The Dance Group had better unilateral postural balance with eyes closed. The Tai Chi Chuan Group had faster walking speeds, shorter transfer times, and better postural balance in the final standing position during the Sit-to-stand Test.

With the increased life expectancy of the Brazilian population, geriatric traumatology has become increasingly important. The sixth cause of death among the elderly population is external causes, just behind cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurologic, respiratory and metabolic diseases. Hip fractures are traumatic injuries that are characteristic of old ages, accounting for 50%, in average, of hospitalizations for trauma in emergency hospitals. It is estimated that 80% of such cases occur in aged people able to walk by themselves and living in communities (1) . The World Health Organization regards proximal femoral fractures as a major public health issue, both in developed and developing countries. In Brazil, no statistical data are available on the costs of these fractures, but, in the United States, 10 billion dollars are spent each year, with 30 billion dollars/ year estimated for the next few years (3) . Of all fractures associated to osteoporosis, those presenting the most significant consequences to quality of life of an indi-

Falls may be devastating events among elderly people. Tai Chi Chuan is a type of moderate sports exercise that demonstrates improvements in balance, gait and posture. The aim here was to assess the influence of this method on the balance, gait and posture of healthy active elderly people. A controlled cross-sectional study was conducted on 76 volunteers, divided into two groups: 51 volunteers Tai Chi Chuan group mean age 76.8 years and 25 volunteers control group mean age 70. years. Both groups underwent the Modified Clinical Test on Sensory Interaction for Balance (mCTSIB), Walking Test (WT), Sit-to-Stand Transfer Test (SSTT) and Unipedal Assessment Test (UT), using the Neurocom Balance Master system. Result: In conditions Static balance tests: the mCTSIB-Tai-Chi Group had a lower sway velocity (°/s) on a firm surface with eyes open and medio-lateral direction, Foam Surface with eyes open medio-lateral and anteroposterior direction. Unilateral Stance Tai-Chi Group had a lower mean sway velocity (°/s) with open eyes (right and left), but with eyes closed. The Control Group showed a lower sway velocity. Under Dynamic Balance: WalkAcross Test Tai-Chi Group presented a walking speed greater than the Control Group. In Sit to Stand Transfer Test, Tai-Chi Group showed a better index rising to lift up and lower oscillation in the final standing position. Conclusion: The Tai Chi Group was shown to be a protection factor for preserving and maintaining the static and dynamic positions of posture and gait.

Introdução 1.1.1 Reconhecimento e prevenção das quedas 1.1.2 Causas de quedas 1.1.3 Análise da marcha e equilíbrio 1.1.4-O programa de prevenção: tai chi chuan. 2 Objetivos 3 Revisão da literatura 4 Casuística e método 4.1 Estruturação da amostra 4.2 Descrição da casuística 4.3 Métodos 4.3.1 Equipamentos 4.4 Análise estatística 4.4.

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