The benefits of Tai Chi practice on standing balance in older adults during COVID-19 pandemic

Tai Chi has been recommended as a fall prevention exercise for older adults and may be particularly beneficial during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the benefits of regular Tai Chi practice on standing balance among older adults living in a nursing home during COVID-19 restrictions. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 38 older adults from a nursing home during COVID-19 extended restrictions. Participants were assigned to a Tai Chi group (n=18, with more than five years of Tai Chi experience) and a control group (n=20, with no Tai Chi experience). Postural sway during standing balance was assessed under four conditions: eyes open (EO); eyes closed (EC); eyes open with the right leg crossed forward (ER); and eyes open with the left leg crossed forward (EL). Furthermore, participants completed questionnaires face-to-face regarding their physical activity (PA) and sleep quality during the COVID-19 period. The Tai Chi group exhibited significantly less postural sway than the control group, particularly under EO and EL conditions (p<0.05). Both groups had similar sleep quality but different PA profiles. Regular Tai Chi practice may help maintain standing balance in older adults, even with limited outdoor mobility due to COVID-19 restrictions. Tai Chi could be an effective home-based exercise for preventing balance decline and potential falls among older adults living in nursing homes during the pandemic. Future studies should investigate the long-term effects of Tai Chi on fall prevention in this population.