Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance® – An alternative exercise program for improving balance, strength, mobility and lowering the risk of falling

The Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance® program (also known as Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance®) consists of an 8-form routine core with built-in exercise variations and a subroutine of integrated therapeutic movements, which, collectively, comprise a set of simple yet functional Tai Ji Quan-based moves. Practice of Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance® focuses on stimulating musculoskeletal, sensory, and cognitive systems via self-initiated, controlled movements such as unilateral weight-bearing and weight-shifting, trunk rotation, ankle sways, and coordinated eye-head-hand movements, and taxing sensory integration, limits of stability, functional adaption, anticipatory control, compensatory responses, and effective gait patterns. The goals of the program are to improve both static and dynamic postural stability, mindful control of body positioning in space, functional walking activities, movement symmetry and coordination, and to increase range of motion around the ankle joints and build lower-extremity strength. Chair-supported progressions, from completely seated, through sit-and-stand, to chair-assisted, are also included, with a variety of challenges, to meet the specific needs and performance capabilities of the participants. Overall, the program offers an integrated training experience in motor-sensory-cognitive systems and postural control, with the ultimate goal of improving performance of daily functional tasks and reducing incidence of falls among older adults.

Note: This program is designed as a fall prevention intervention for community senior service providers, clinical rehabilitation, and research projects. If you are interested in joining a research project please visit here