| Abstract [eng] |
SUMMARY Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine Department of Rehabilitation, Physical and Sports Medicine Master of Applied Physical Activity Programme The Effectiveness of Tai-Chi Exercises on Balance, Postural Stability and Cognitive Functions in Elderly People Applied Physical Activity Master‘s Thesis The Author: Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine master of Applied physical activity programme 2nd year student Skiauteryte Lina. Academic advisor: PhD. Muntianaite Inga, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine Center of Rehabilitation, Physical and Sports Medicine. Keywords: the elderly, Tai-Chi, body balance, cognitive function, risk of accidental falls, postural control, Chinese medicine. The aim of the research work: to assess the impact of Tai-Chi on balance, postural stability, and cognitive functions in the elderly. Tasks of work: 1. Assess the impact of Tai-Chi and balance exercises on balance, postural stability and cognitive functions in the elderly. 2. Examine the effectiveness of Tai-Chi exercises compared to the balance exercises in the elderly. Materials and methods: The research was carried out at Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine Center of Rehabilitation, Physical and Sports Medicine in 2016-2017. The study involved 40 (n=40) individuals, including 95percent of elderly women (n=38) and 5percent of elderly men (n=2). These individuals were randomly divided into two (I and II) groups. Both groups were subject to group physical exercises two times per week, 40 min. each. The first group individuals were subject to the Tai-Chi programme and the second group was subject to the balance training programme. The following tests were used during the research: Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire, Short Physical Performance Battery, The Functional Reach test – to test physical parameters; Mini–Mental State Examination, Six item cognitive impairment test, The cognitive failures questionnaire – to test cognitive parameters; Satisfaction With Life Scale to test quality of life. Results: 40 participants were involved, of which 38 (95 percent) were women and 2 (5 percent ) were men. In assessing the homogeneity of the groups, the estimates between the groups were not statistically significant (p>0,05). The analysis of the results before and after the research showed a function improvement in all evaluation categories. Evaluation of the subjective cognitive function showed a statistically significant change in the Tai-Chi group (p<0,05) in comparison to the control group. The change in the objective cognitive function between the groups was not statistically significant (p>0,05). Analysing the results of the Quality of life scale, a statistically significant change was observed in the Tai-Chi group only (p<0,05). The results of the quality of life in the control group have not changed statistically significantly. Evaluating the functional reach in both left and right hands, it was determined that the limit of reach has improved in both groups, but the change of the distance of the reach between the Tai-Chi group and the control group after the research, was not statistically significant (p>0,05).The results of the SPPB test showed that there was an improvement in the physical function of the individuals in both groups.The change in the physical function in the Tai-Chi group was bigger than in the control group, though it was not statistically significant (p>0,05). Conclusions: The results of the research showed that the programme with the Tai-Chi exercises has statistically significantly improved the subjective cognitive function in the participants of the research. Besides, the quality of life in the Tai-Chi group has shown a statistically significant change (p<0,05). Both exercise programmes had an impact on the physical function (balance, the speed of the gait and standing up from the chair and functional reach) of the participants. The research hypothesis has been partly proved. |
