Taijiquan_Forum

Abstract

Falls in the elderly can cause injuries that often lead to loss of independence. Loss of
postural sway, balance, and slower reaction times are strong predictors of falling (Lajoie
and Gallagher, 2004). Traditional exercise programs focus on studying and treating these
factors (Tideiksaar, 1997; Shumway-Cook et al, 1997b); however, fear of falling, another
strong predictor of falls, has received relatively little attention in the treatment literature
(Maki et al, 1991; Rawsky, 1997). There are indications of a direct link between fear of
falling and falls (Myers et al, 1996), and a relationship between fear-related avoidance of
activities and falling (Delbaere et al, 2004). Taiji, an ancient Chinese martial art turned
exercise regimen (Wolf et al, 2001), has been shown to be effective ameliorating
traditional factors for falling as well as reducing fear (Wolf et al, 1996; Taggart, 2002;
Tsang et al, 2004). Like graded exposure therapies, Taiji practitioners slowly and
progressively achieve increasingly difficult postures that simulate potentially fearful
situations in a calming environment. Indeed, relative to other exercise treatments, such
as computerized balance training, education, and graded exercise, Taiji has produced
significant reductions in fear of falling and in actual falls (Taggart, 2002; McGibbon et al,
2005, Wolf et al, 1996). The purpose of this presentation is to review the research to
date advocating the efficacy of Taiji, as Graded Exposure therapy against fear of falling
and falls in seniors. Implications and future research directions will be discussed.