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The New England Journal of Medicine Feb 9.
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NEW YORK (AP) — The ancient Chinese exercise of tai chi improved balance and lowered the risk of falls in a study of people with Parkinson’s disease.

Tai chi, with its slow, graceful movements, has been shown to improve strength and aid stability in older people, and has been studied for a number of ailments. In the latest study, led by Fuzhong Li of the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene, tai chi was tested in 195 people with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s.

The findings are in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine. The study was paid for by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Order your copy and begin practicing right away.  Therapeutic Tai Chi Fall Prevention Program DVD produced by the researchers: original intent preserved. Video is only $5.99, no artistic DVD cover or disc art, no slim case, no other bells and whistles.

S&H $2.99 USPS with delivery confirmation.

Regular Practice with Therapeutic Tai Chi Fall Prevention Program DVD can lead to better Balance :

Better movement excursion and control, and consistent, steady walking patterns:

•     improved postural stability
•     improved control of body positioning
•     improved gait initiation
•     improved movement symmetry and coordination
•     improved lower extremity strength

Therapeutic Tai Chi Fall Prevention Program DVD Now available with Learning Guidebook!

Laddie Sacharko was among area tai chi instructors certified in the “Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance ” program for fall prevention. May 13 2011   New London CT

Dr Fuzhong Li, Sr Researcher for the Oregon Research Institute conducted training in New London, CT in May 2011.

The program was developed as part of a study conducted by the Oregon Research Institute, funded by the Centers for Disease Control, aimed at reducing this chronic problem faced by seniors.
The training was funded by the Aging Services Division of the CT Department of Social Services,organized by the CT Collaboration for Fall Prevention and ACHIEVE New London, coordinated by the Ledge Light Health District, and conducted by Dr. Fuzhong Li, program developer.
This Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance fall prevention  program is evidence based, and recommended by CDC for community fall prevention programming. ORI senior researcher Dr Fuzhong Li was able to demonstrate a 55% reduction in rate of falls among some 250 seniors over the program course of 26 weeks. With health care costs associated with falls and related onset disease approaching $20 Billion annually (about $35 million annually in CT alone), fall prevention has gained a high level of attention among healthcare providers.
In its 2010 revision of guidelines for fall prevention, the American Geriatrics Association and the British Geriatrics Association, listed the #1 recommendation for fall prevention is exercise such as tai chi.

Sacharko is currently conducting continuing education training for physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapists, recreation therapists, and nurse practitioners: visit tai chi for therapy.  The core of that training for therapists is this tai chi moving for better balance fall prevention program.  Contact him at 860 455 0353 or email.  View/Download Course Brochure

The guidelines were compiled by a panel comprising members from the previous panels and new members with substantial knowledge, experience, and publications in fall prevention and care of older patients, and are based on a systematic review of the randomized controlled trials of fall prevention interventions.  The literature search included meta-analyses, systematic literature reviews, randomized controlled trials, controlled before-and-after studies, and cohort studies published between May 2001 and April 2008.  The panel also reviewed the RCTs published between April 2008 and July 2009 and concluded that the additional evidence did not change the ranking of the evidence or the guideline recommendations.

“Falls are one of the most common health problems experienced by older adults and are a common cause of losing functional independence,” said Dr. Mary Tinetti of Yale University School of Medicine, and one of the panel chairs. “Given their frequency and consequences, falls are as serious a health problem for older persons as heart attacks and strokes.”

The guidelines now state that doctors and other health professionals should determine whether their older patients are at risk of falling by asking if they have fallen recently or if they are unsteady walking. If so, health providers should look for the presence of known problems such as muscle weakness, poor balance or blood pressure that drops too much on standing. If they have these problems, then older adults should receive the interventions described in the guidelines, but if there is no evidence of gait problems or recurrent falls, they do not require a risk assessment.

The new recommendations for interventions focus on:

• Multifactorial interventions which include exercise for balance, gait and strength training, such as Tai Chi or physical therapy

• Environmental adaptation to reduce fall risk factors in the home and in daily activities

• Cataract surgery where needed, but they recommend against vision intervention as an individual approach

• Medication reduction, regardless of the number of medications prescribed (in 2001 this was only recommended for those on at least four) with particular attention to medications that affect the brain such as sleeping medications and antidepressants

• Focus on raising low blood pressure and managing heart rate and rhythm abnormalities

“We found that the most effective trials for preventing falls in older people looked at multiple interventions rather than just one; previous studies have indicated that it is more effective to focus on one intervention, but because we looked at not only what recommendations were given, but also which carried out, we’re confident that multifactorial interventions is the best course of action,” said Tinetti.

“There is emerging evidence that the rate of serious fall injuries, such as hip fractures, is decreasing modestly in areas in which fall prevention is integrated into clinical practice.  By making fall prevention part of the clinical care of older adults this trend can continue.”

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A summary of the updated AGS/BGS Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention of Falls in the Older Persons is published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact healthnews@wiley.com

Full citation: Summary of the Updated AGS/BGS Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention of Falls in Older Persons Developed by the Panel on Prevention of Falls in Older Persons, American Geriatrics Society and British Geriatrics Society. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2010; DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03234.x

URL upon publication: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03234.x