Senior community centers in Lane County, Oregon have begun putting study into practice, instituting a tai chi program that researchers claimed could help prevent terrible falls amongst elders. As reported in the American Journal of Public Health, the Oregon Department of Health Services has gotten involved and seen that this method of ‘treatment’ has been placed in various places in Oregon.

The goal is simple: increase physical activity in the seniors living in these specific communities and decrease the likelihood that they will suffer from falls known to cause further issues.

Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the previously performed study was able to be implemented in order to determine its success rate when actually taught to seniors. For twelve weeks, one hour classes were held by trained tai chi instructors two times per week. It was important to learn how well the instructors could translate the regime to the participants, how effective the exercise was and how willing the participants and community centers were to continue after the twelve weeks were through.

Thankfully, all the centers that were involved were glad to retain the program for their seniors. Those taking the classes saw a significant boost in health. Their balance was strengthened and the number of falls was slashed. Most importantly, the participants were able to experience a sense of independence from what they learned in their tai chi instruction.

"Our results are very important from a public health perspective," said Fuzhong Li, Ph.D. of the Oregon Research Institute and study lead. "The U.S. population is aging rapidly and falls are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity among adults age 65 and older. Falls are associated with an enormous burden to individuals, society, and to the health care system. Tai Chi, as a proven fall intervention, may have much to offer in terms of reducing the public health burden of falls and the benefits accrued for prevention."

Tai chi is a low-cost form of exercise, requiring no equipment and little facilities. Its benefits have been proven vital, both in initial study and practice for the health and wellbeing of our elders. Should other senior community centers start imitating Oregon’s example, the injuries that were seen as typical within the older population would be reduced and the safety of our loved ones would be secured.