Randomised Controlled Trial Of The Effect Of Tai Chi On Postural Balance Of People With Dementia.
Purpose
To investigate the effect of Tai Chi exercise on postural balance among people with dementia (PWD) and the feasibility of a definitive trial on falls prevention.


Patients and methods
Dyads, comprising community-dwelling PWD and their informal carer (N=85), were randomised to usual care (n=43) or usual care plus weekly Tai Chi classes and home practice for 20 weeks (n=42). The primary outcome was the timed up and go test. All outcomes for PWD and their carers were assessed six months post-baseline, except for falls, which were collected prospectively over the six-month follow-up period.


Results
For PWD, there was no significant difference at follow-up on the timed up and go test (mean difference [MD] = 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -2.17, 3.81). At follow-up, PWD in the Tai Chi group had significantly higher quality of life (MD = 0.051, 95% CI = 0.002, 0.100, standardised effect size [ES] = 0.51) and a significantly lower rate of falls (rate ratio = 0.35, 95% CI =0.15, 0.81), which was no longer significant when an outlier was removed. Carers in the Tai Chi group at follow-up were significantly worse on the timed up and go test (MD = 1.83, 95% CI = 0.12, 3.53, ES = 0.61). The remaining secondary outcomes were not significant. No serious adverse events were related to participation in Tai Chi.


Conclusion
With refinement, this Tai Chi intervention has potential to reduce the incidence of falls and improve quality of life among community-dwelling PWD [Trial registration: NCT02864056].
['Nyman|Samuel R|SR|0000-0003-1963-0814', 'Ingram|Wendy|W|0000-0003-0182-9462', 'Sanders|Jeanette|J|0000-0002-6947-4592', 'Thomas|Peter W|PW|0000-0003-2478-4324', 'Thomas|Sarah|S|0000-0002-9501-9091', 'Vassallo|Michael|M|0000-0002-3474-3713', 'Raftery|James|J|', 'Bibi|Iram|I|0000-0002-8696-9730', 'Barrado-Martín|Yolanda|Y|0000-0002-9912-6345']
D000058:Accidental Falls D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D003704:Dementia D015444:Exercise D005260:Female D006801:Humans D057187:Independent Living D008297:Male D004856:Postural Balance D011788:Quality of Life D026302:Tai Ji D013996:Time and Motion Studies
exercise intervention accidental falls clinical trial cognitive impairment