Tai Chi Chuan, ideal alternative activity for persons older.
the physical health of Eastern origin activities are very much present in our society, but the question that remains unsolved is to determine its effects.
Spain, July of 2011- researchers from the Faculty of science of physical activity and sport-INEF of the Polytechnic University of Madrid have studied what are the benefits of the practice of Tai Chi Chuan – TCC on our health, both physical and psychological.
As with other activities of low and medium intensity, its practice improves the quality of life of older persons. From the medical point of view, the study finds Tai Chi Chuan an ideal alternative for the elderly, and also an activity to include in programs of physical rehabilitation.
The results so far in this research are a fundamental information for various professionals related to the field of health. From a medical point of view, because it shows that CBT is an ideal alternative activity for the elderly which may help decrease healthcare costs. For practitioners of physical activity and sport, because it confirms that this activity may be included in different physical rehabilitation programmes, in the promotion of healthy life habits among the population. And, from the point of view of the teacher of CBT, because they are detected patterns to follow in methodological progression of his teaching in the face to ensure the benéficios which offers its practitioners.
To perform this work, the teachers of the Faculty of the science of physical activity and sport – INEF carried out a review of 69 studies, 12 systematic reviews and 57 specific studies (39 experimental and 18 non-experimental), to analyze the effects of CBT on osteoarthrosis of the knee; the balance and the fear of falling or the quality of life. In the case of osteoarthritis, research shows that the effects of Tai Chi Chuan are still contradictory, although it is registered a positive trend with respect to the improvement of the physical functionality, joint the stiffness and pain control.
On the other hand, on balance, confirming that CBT brings positive benefits both for the static equilibrium and for the dynamic, and also on the confidence of the person with the fear of falling. At a specific level, improved proprioception joint in ankle and vestibular balance control, but in these last aspects need a long time of practice.
Psychologically improves the quality of life of its practitioners in the dimensions of emotional well-being (State of mind in general, stress, anxiety, depression and enfado-tensión), the perception of himself (self-efficacy and fear to drops) and corporal welfare (sleep disorders). However, these improvements are equivalent to those achieved with other activities of low and medium intensity.
The researchers warn that these results must be taken with some caution, because a large number of the analysed studies suffer from methodological flaws in the design of research such as: the use of small samples, shortcomings in the standards of inclusion and exclusion of participants, deficiencies in the statistical analysis, deficiencies in the standardization of the measurement of results, etc.
Work involving Pedro Jesús Jiménez MartÃn, Agustin Melendez Ortega and Ulrike Alberts, researchers from the departments of Sciences social physical activity, sport and leisure ” and health and human performance ”, Faculty of science of the physical activity and sport – INEF of the Polytechnic University of Madrid.
