Therapeutic “Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance” fall prevention program case study

After years of drifting along with mediocre recruiting results, and moderate retention in a tai chi for seniors class offered in local community settings, I completed a project I’d been working on for some time.  That work resulted in this CE workshop for Physical  and Occupational Therapists, Recreation Therapists, and Personal and Fitness Trainers.

The timing for this “new” approach is exquisite, as the media is announcing 10,000 retirements per week:  more and more people are moving up in years and will begin to experience diminishing functional capabilities, including the abilities needed to retain an active and Independent lifestyle.

With years of research behind it, “Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance” is a CDC recognized and recommended approach to reducing falls through functional balance training.  In our daily lives we move through space in ways that challenge our ability to recognize our body’s position in space, and move it safely from place to place.  “Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance” trains these abilities, with the resultant functional outcome of a potential 55% reduction in the rates of falling:  It does a good job in training balance.

In following the Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance protocol, I was able to establish a framework where one group that had consistently enrolled 12-20 people (1x per week) for over 10 years, swelled to that “same” group (of 23) now enrolled for 2x per week.  A second “group” went from 4 “classes” of 6-10 people (some at 3x per week) suddenly swelled to six “classes” over-enrolled (more than 14 per class), with a waiting list.  Over the course of the Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance protocol specified period of time (4 months), I had more than 1400 “cheeks in seats” involving some 70 people, in two locations ( 8 hours per week)…with plenty of time to address other teaching obligations.  I won’t tell you what amount of money was charged for these classes, but if you used the protocol estimate of $4.50 per class (some were charged more, some were charged less), that’s nearly $400 for one day’s effort.  That amount is also far below the amount of money chargeable for small group exercise…Therx:Other!

Teaching Tai Chi is not only about money, but also about helping people achieve their goals and live out their dreams.  Too often, I hear so much about “abstract” ideas, intangible purpose, and infinite, unending time frames,…THIS Tai Chi program offers specific, achievable goals over a specified (relatively short) time frame (with statistically significant, clinically proven outcomes).  Using the protocol, pre and post test functional ability measurements show each student exactly what progress has been made in reducing fall risk.  Anecdotal and measurable confidence in ability goes up, and participants have fun with peers .  Once started, students report a desire to continue exercising.

This table shows the numerical data associated with these two “classes”, the first 8 columns reflect each of the 8 groups, with the ninth column showing the overall “outcomes”.  Functional abilities measures were significantly improves for “Functional Reach Test” and “50 Foot Speedwalk Test”.   An exit “Satisfaction Survey” with a 4 point scale resulted in a score of 3.95.

Class Average Age	87	76	87	75	80	79		70	70		78
Program Average Age	82	78	83	82	80	79		73	73		78.75
Start Program	12	14	12	14	11	9		19	19		110
Program Now	8	10	8	10	9	6		19	19		90
Program Retention	0.66	71	0.666	0.714	81	0.77		1	1		0.818182
Program Possible	139	158	155	175	142	108		319	242		1366
Program Attended	130	151	144	160	126	96		280	209		1230
Program ATT	0.93	91	0.929	0.914	87	87		0.877	0.8636		0.9
Class Start	15	18	15	15	14	13		23	0		113
Class Now	11	12	11	11	10	8		23	0		90
Class Retention	0.73	72	0.73	0.733	85	76		1	0		0.7966
Class Possible	186	202	200	198	181	160		387			1418
Class Attended	169	190	180	184	147	130		335	0		1253
Class ATT	0.90	89	0.9	0.873	77	81		0.881	0		0.8836