Document Type

Thesis - NSU Access Only

Title

Balance Assessments after Tai Chi Training of People over 60 Years of Age

Authors

David Vincent Barr III, Nova Southeastern University

Degree Name

Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Department

College of Health Care Sciences - Physical Therapy Department

Publication Date / Copyright Date

1998

Publisher

Nova Southeastern University

NSUWorks Citation

David Vincent Barr III. 1998. Balance Assessments after Tai Chi Training of People over 60 Years of Age. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Health Care Sciences - Physical Therapy Department. (88)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_pt_stuetd/88.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine if Tai Chi training will improve balance in people 60 years of age or older.

Guiding Questions: Will practicing Tai Chi-trained group and a non-Tai Chi-trained group by using the Tinetti and Romberg Balance assessments?

Subjects and Methods: Twenty-two subjects over 60 years of age were assessed by the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Balance and Gait Assessments, plus the Standard Romberg and Tandem "Stratified" Romberg Assessments. Sway and strategies were also assessed. A group of people that practices Tai Chi (n=10) were compared with a group of people that do not practice Tai Chi (n=12).

Results: The Tinetti assessments were insignificant, but the Romberg assessments did depict significant difference between the two groups. The results from the Tinetti assessments were analyzed with an Independent Sample t-test and a Levene's test checked for Homogeneity of Variance for violations of equality. The results from the Romberg assessments, and the sway and strategies were analyzed with Pearson's chi square and cross tabs.

Principal conclusion: The Tai Chi-trained group has a better balance than the group not trained in Tai Chi.

Disciplines

Physical Therapy