Tai Chi Benefits in an Ageing Population

Falls in the older community are a major issue and the resultant injuries can range from minor cuts and bruising to major injuries resulting in hospitalisation, surgery or worse.  In the aged population, falls can occur from loss of balance situations during simple acts such as walking, getting up from a chair or climbing stairs etc.

An important aspect of aged care is a proactive approach in the reduction of falls and as a result, reductions in skin tears and other injuries. One such initiative being introduced in some residential aged care homes, community services and for the general population is Tai Chi based balance and stability programs. There are volumes of research providing evidence Tai Chi is one of the best interventions to assist in reducing falls in older people (Wolfe, Lord, Voukelatos etc).

Fig.1 Senior Tai Chi Master and National Director of the Australian Academy of Tai Chi demonstrations in China and Hong Kong in 2019.

Rod Ferguson is a Senior Tai Chi Master and National Director of Training with the Australian Academy of Tai Chi and Qigong, who has pursued a passionate interest in falls prevention since the early 1990s, after hearing about how Tai Chi was being used successfully for this purpose in the USA.

In 1998, Rod travelled to the USA to meet with Professor Xu – the provider of the Tai Chi component for the FICSIT (Wolfe) study (best research of the 90s). Rod has since developed the Applied Tai Chi for Balance & Stability program, as well as a safe seated program for those less mobile, whether temporarily or permanent.

As an example of the activities in Queensland, the Australian Academy of Tai Chi and Qigong Queensland branches run classes for the community (with Local Government support), private Aged Care Facilities (at risk, low-mobility), and retirement homes - either in face-to-face sessions or through a virtual network.

Fig.2 Tai Chi Master Rod Ferguson conducting community classes in Queensland.

Tai Chi training sessions were provided for Senior Medical Officers as part of the ‘Medical Leadership Program’ for the Centre for Healthcare Improvement, Queensland Health. This not only demonstrated to the Medical Officers the benefits of Tai Chi available to their patients, but also enabled them experience the value of regular exercise and stress control for themselves.

In conjunction with the Brisbane City Council, Queensland Health and the Stafford Community Group, the Australian Academy of Tai Chi conducted a pilot study on how to implement a successful community healthy aging program to prevent falls. Following the success of this study, several Local Governments have invested in ongoing classes for Tai Chi for balance and stability, using Rod’s Applied Tai Chi program.  These programs continue to run successfully in Brisbane, Moreton, Gold Coast, Cairns, Bundaberg and Townsville. Rod has also presented well-received sessions at the Queensland Health Falls Forum 2008 and again in 2011, and International Falls Conferences on several occasions.

Fig.3 Senior Master Rod Ferguson presenting to the Queensland Falls Forum.

The great thing about Tai Chi is that it not only improves balance and stability (thereby reducing the risk of falling), but also is renowned for its many other health benefits and its stress-reducing calming qualities. This increases the individual’s sense of well being, boosting the immune system and improving overall health - leading to healthy ageing.

While, for aged care organisations, it is good to be able to have a qualified Tai Chi instructor to come in to a facility to conduct sessions, this is often not financially viable and unsustainable especially for more than one session per week. Insufficient frequency would not achieve the desired effect. Although the skill level of qualified Tai Chi instructors is higher, they do not have the rapport or knowledge of individual clients, their conditions, limitations, or special needs. The best option, therefore, is to have trained staff members to conduct more frequent regular sessions and even small-individualized exercise practice breaks at each available opportunity.

Fig.4 Tai Chi with Grand Master Gary Khor.

Training develops the competency of non-expert class leaders (Allied Health workers, who already have an understanding of safety requirements and considerations for the elderly). Group leaders do NOT need to be experts in Tai Chi, but experts in applying the Applied Tai Chi principles to the clients needs.

The Academy of Tai Chi run ‘Train the Trainer’ seminars, aimed specifically for Allied Health Workers in Aged Care but it is also excellent for anyone interested in healthy ageing, including instructors or prospective instructors. The course “Applied Tai Chi - for Healthy Aging" incorporates Tai Chi exercises for assistance in Chronic Disease Management, Falls Prevention and exercises for those with less mobility. Applied Tai Chi Qigong has also been adapted to cater for less mobile with a safe seated program as displayed in Fig.5 below.

Fig.5 Senior Master Rod Ferguson left and right with Adrian Wan PHD demonstrating Tai Chi for the less mobile.

Details of all programs can be obtained by contacting the Australian Academy of Tai Chi on (07) 3358 1955 for Rod Ferguson and Queensland or (02) 9797 9555 for NSW and other areas, or the Australian Academy of Tai Chi website or Facebook.