PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of community-based Tai Chi (TC) training on balance control during stair descent by older adults. SUBJECTS: Participants were randomly assigned to either the TC group or the wellness education (WE) group. The participants in the TC group received TC training three times a week for 12 weeks. The participants in the WE group participated in a health education program for one hour weekly. METHODS: Subjects stood in a predetermined position at the top of a custom-built 3-step staircase and then negotiated the stairs at a self-paced speed. Participants were asked to place only one foot on each step (foot-over-foot). The changes in the translation of the center of pressure (COP) before and after TC training were measured. RESULTS: Subjects in the TC group showed a significant increase in the displacement of COP in the anteroposterior (A-P) and mediolateral (M-L) directions as well as average velocity of the COP displacement after Tai Chi training (p < 0.01). There was little change in the COP displacement for subjects in the WE group. CONCLUSION: These findings support the use of TC training as an effective fall prevention program to reduce the incidence of falls among the elderly.

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