Effectiveness of Tai Chi as a Community‐Based Falls Prevention Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

There was no difference in falls rates between the groups, with falls reducing similarly (mean falls rate reduction of 58%) over the 17-month follow-up period. Strength and balance improved similarly in all groups over time.

The Distinction Between Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) and Preliminary Feasibility and Pilot Studies: What They Are and Are Not

“…13 In nondrug studies, such as physical therapy interventions, it might take the form of a case series or a small trial with a short-term, physiological outcome, such as within-group changes in range of motion or strength, 1 rather than a patient-reported outcome such as a functional outcome questionnaire or recurrence, 5 or a surrogate outcome like a risk score shortly after intervention 7 rather than an observed, patientrelevant, longer-term outcome. 12 It may be reasonable to assess these aspects of treatment effect in the context of a feasibility study 2 ; however, the design of a full-size trial to assess either efficacy or effectiveness may still require a subsequent pilot study to get an indication of whether the intervention has promisingenough effects in longer-term, patientrelevant outcomes to warrant the time and expense of an RCT.…”

Effects of Two 12-week Strengthening Programmes on Functional Mobility, Strength and Balance of Older Adults: Comparison between TRX Suspension Training versus an Elastic Band Resistance Training

“…However, several previous studies demonstrated positive effects of resistance training on these important resources of older adults (Barnett, Smith, Lord, Williams, Baumand, 2003;Clemson et al, 2012;Irez, Ozdemir, Evin, Irez, Korkusuz, 2011;Kaesler, Mellifont, Kelly, Taaffe, 2007;Krebs, Scarborough, McGibbon, 2007;Taylor et al, 2012). For fall prevention in particular, Training was separated into four periods (see Figure 1) with different configurations of training control.…”

Effects of Different Exercise Interventions on Risk of Falls, Gait Ability, and Balance in Physically Frail Older Adults: A Systematic Review

“…The sample size of the studies that were included in the present review was 171.8 -196.6 subjects (ranging from 9 16 to 684 subjects 38 ). The mean -standard deviation (SD) of the subjects' ages was 78.2 -5.3 (ranging from 70 -2 16 to 90 -2 35 ).…”

“…[23][24][25][26]30 Six studies investigated elderly aged 70 and older presenting recent history of injurious falls, transition for frailty, and recent illness-induced functional decline. 17,34,[37][38][39][40] Finally, one study investigated sarcopenic women presenting poor strength and gait ability levels based on literature criteria, 15 and one study investigated elderly aged 90 and older. 35 …”

“…Ten of these studies investigated the effects of multi-component exercise interventions, 15,17,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29] six studies investigated the effects of resistance training, [30][31][32][33][34][35] one study investigated the effects of endurance training combined with yoga, 36 and three studies investigated the effects of a Tai Chi intervention, which was considered to be a balance training intervention. [37][38][39] Assessment of risk of bias Risk of bias was evaluated according to the PRISMA recommendation. 22 Study quality assessment included adequate sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding of outcomes assessors, use of intention-to-treat analysis, and description of losses and exclusions.…”