• Manh Hung Nguyen and Andreas Kruse.
• Institute of Gerontology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany. hung.nguyen@gero.uni-heidelberg.de
• Clin Interv Aging. 2012 Jan 1; 7: 185-90.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of Tai chi exercise on balance, sleep quality, and cognitive performance in community-dwelling elderly in Vinh city, Vietnam.DesignA randomized controlled trial.ParticipantsOne hundred two subjects were recruited.InterventionSubjects were divided randomly into two groups. The Tai chi group was assigned 6 months' Tai chi training. The control group was instructed to maintain their routine daily activities.Outcome MeasuresThe Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Trail Making Test (TMT) were used as primary outcome measures.ResultsParticipants in the Tai chi group reported significant improvement in TMT (part A) (F [1, 71] = 78.37, P < 0.001) and in TMT (part B), (F [1, 71] = 175.00, P < 0.001) in comparison with the control group. Tai chi participants also reported better scores in FES (F [1, 71] = 96.90, P < 0.001) and in PSQI (F [1,71] = 43.69, P = 0.001) than the control group.ConclusionTai chi is beneficial to improve balance, sleep quality, and cognitive performance of the elderly.

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