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A comparison between effects of Square-Stepping Exercise and Tai Chi Chuan on functional fitness and fear of falling in older women

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Abstract

Background

It is challenging to find exercise programs that are safe, effective, attractive, and feasible to reduce the risk of falls and fall-related injuries in older adults.

Aims

We compared the effects of SSE (Square-Stepping Exercise) versus TCC (Tai Chi Chuan) on functional fitness and fear of falling in older women aged 60 years and above.

Methods

It was a single blind randomized control trial. We purposefully selected 36 older women (aged 65.2 ± 3.82 years). They were then paired based on the criterion of functional reach test and randomly assigned to two groups (18 people) of TTC and SSE. The exercise program included 8 weeks of three 1-h-session training. We measured functional fitness and fear of falling. Functional fitness was assessed using the following tests: Single Leg-Stance-Eyes Open/Closed, Timed Up and Go, Functional Reach Test, Chair Stand, Arm Curl, and Back Scratch. Fear of falling was assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale—International.

Results

We analyzed the data using repeated measure ANOVA. Within-group comparisons revealed significant improvements for both groups in all nine measures of functional tests as well as fear of falling \(({F}_{\left(1, 17\right)}>23.01, P<0.001, {\eta }^{2}>0.404)\). Interaction comparisons revealed that improvements in measures of functional fitness were greater in the TTC group \(({F}_{\left(\mathrm{1,34}\right)}>4.7, P<0.037, {\eta }^{2}>0.122)\). Nevertheless, the groups were not significantly different in fear of falling \(({F}_{\left(\mathrm{1,34}\right)}=0.110, P=0.742, {\eta }^{2}=0.037)\).

Conclusion

Our findings showed that both TCC and SSE interventions improved functional fitness and fear of falling. The TCC is more effective than SSE, though the latter is easier to learn and perform.

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Data availability

The data of this study are available from the corresponding author, V Zolaktaf, upon reasonable request.

Notes

  1. Vicious cycle of falling.

  2. Consolidated standards of reporting trials.

  3. Single Leg-Stance-Eyes Open.

  4. Single Leg-Stance Eyes Closed.

  5. Functional Reach Test.

  6. Timed Up and Go.

  7. Falls Self-Efficacy Scale—International.

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Funding

We received no specific grant from funding agencies, public, commercial, or non-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sport Injuries and Therapeutic Exercises, Faculty of Exercise Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

    Farzaneh Sadeghian & Vahid Zolaktaf

  2. School of Health and Sport Science, Chukyo University, Nagoya, Japan

    Ryosuke Shigematsu

Authors
  1. Farzaneh Sadeghian
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  2. Vahid Zolaktaf
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  3. Ryosuke Shigematsu
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Contributions

All the authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by [VZ] and [FS]. The first draft of the manuscript was written by [FS], and all the authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript. The data of this study are available from the corresponding author, V Zolaktaf, upon reasonable request.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vahid Zolaktaf.

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On behalf of all the authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The Research Ethics Board of the University of Isfahan approved the research, ethics code: IR.UI. REC.1397.0.-79.

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Accordingly, the participants were informed about the possible costs, benefits, risks, compensation process, tests, and confidentiality of the information.

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All the participants signed the informed consent form of the study before participation.

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Appendix

Appendix

Appendix Table A.1 (see Table

Table 3 Training protocol of the Tai Chi Chuan group
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3)

Appendix Table A.2 (see Table

Table 4 Training protocol of the Square-Stepping Exercise group
Full size table

4)

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Sadeghian, F., Zolaktaf, V. & Shigematsu, R. A comparison between effects of Square-Stepping Exercise and Tai Chi Chuan on functional fitness and fear of falling in older women. Aging Clin Exp Res 35, 827–834 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-023-02367-1

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