There is increasing evidence that exercise promotes psychological and physiological benefits for older individuals. Nonetheless, the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles increases, as people get older. Given the aging of the population, a major challenge for health professionals is to develop and deliver programs that enhance and maintain health status, and thereby, quality of life. The proposed randomized controlled trial takes a social cognitive approach (Bandura, 1977, 1986) to experimentally evaluate an intervention designed to improve physical and psychological control and subsequently, health status, using a moderate-intensity, low-cost, Tai Chi program for a vulnerable population of older adults. A four-year study is proposed with the primary objective of understanding the long-term effectiveness of Tai Chi in: (a) promoting psycho-social and physical benefits; (b) improving health status and quality of life, and (c) influencing known determinants of continued physical activity participation. Using a randomized control intervention trial, the study will focus on the effects of a Tai Chi program on theory-based mediators of changes in a variety of psychological control variables including self-efficacy and physical control variables including balance, among older individuals aged 70+ years, by comparing the overall difference in change between intervention (n=112) and exercise control (n=112) groups over time. The results are expected to provide a better understanding of the effects of Tai Chi on the targeted psychosocial and physical characteristics of older individuals, its sustained effects on their health, quality of life and exercise participation, and the feasibility of such programs for relatively low cost implementation in community facilities.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG018394-04
Application #
6611031
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-2 (01))
Program Officer
Stahl, Sidney M
Project Start
2000-09-30
Project End
2005-08-31
Budget Start
2003-09-01
Budget End
2005-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$284,076
Indirect Cost
Name
Oregon Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
053615423
City
Eugene
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97403
Li, Fuzhong; Harmer, Peter; Fisher, K John et al. (2007) Tai Chi-based exercise for older adults with Parkinson's disease: a pilot-program evaluation. J Aging Phys Act 15:139-51
Li, Fuzhong; Fisher, K John; Brownson, Ross C et al. (2005) Multilevel modelling of built environment characteristics related to neighbourhood walking activity in older adults. J Epidemiol Community Health 59:558-64
Li, Fuzhong; Fisher, K John; Harmer, Peter et al. (2005) Falls self-efficacy as a mediator of fear of falling in an exercise intervention for older adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 60:P34-40
Li, Fuzhong; Fisher, K John; Bauman, Adrian et al. (2005) Neighborhood influences on physical activity in middle-aged and older adults: a multilevel perspective. J Aging Phys Act 13:87-114
Li, Fuzhong; Harmer, Peter; Fisher, K John et al. (2005) Tai Chi and fall reductions in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 60:187-94
Li, Fuzhong; Fisher, John; Brownson, Ross C (2005) A multilevel analysis of change in neighborhood walking activity in older adults. J Aging Phys Act 13:145-59
Li, Fuzhong; Harmer, Peter; Fisher, K John et al. (2004) Tai Chi: improving functional balance and predicting subsequent falls in older persons. Med Sci Sports Exerc 36:2046-52
Fisher, K John; Li, Fuzhong; Michael, Yvonne et al. (2004) Neighborhood-level influences on physical activity among older adults: a multilevel analysis. J Aging Phys Act 12:45-63
Li, Fuzhong; Fisher, K John; Harmer, Peter et al. (2003) Fear of falling in elderly persons: association with falls, functional ability, and quality of life. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 58:P283-90
Li, Fuzhong; Fisher, K John; Harmer, Peter et al. (2002) Delineating the impact of Tai Chi training on physical function among the elderly. Am J Prev Med 23:92-7

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