Tai Chi Shown to Cut Elderly’s Risk of Falling

Exercises based on Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art described as slow-motion kung fu, can help the elderly reduce the risk of falling, researchers reported Tuesday.

A study of 2,328 seniors in a program of general exercise showed that falls can be reduced by about 13% and that Tai Chi training was the most beneficial, reducing injuries by 25%, the study found. The results are to be published today in the Journal of the American Medical Assn.

Dr. Michael A. Province of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, lead author of the study, said falling is a significant health risk for people over 60.

“For the elderly, falls are a big deal,” said Province. Injuries from falls are “a big medical problem. They can even be a death sentence.”

About 30% of people over 65 fall at least once a year and 10% to 15% of those falls result in injuries, such as fractures. Treating fall injuries represents a huge health care cost to the nation, he said.