Insights and Lessons Learned from a 12 Session Tai Chi Training Intervention Judith B. Hirschfeld, MSA1; Darrell Spurlock, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, ANEF2; Daniel Abbey, RN1 Andrea Light, RN1; 1Mount Carmel Health System 2Mount Carmel College of Nursing Inter-Professional Research and Evidence-Based Practice Day Mount Carmel Health System May 10, 2017

Background Half of trauma patients in trauma registry, derived their injury from a fall. Falls most prevalent in the 50 year and older The hospital offered Tai Chi classes as an intervention. Tai Chi, a nontraditional slow motion exercise, identified by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as evidence-based in reducing falls.

Methods Examine impact of Tai Chi on mobility and flexibility, 93 subjects participated in 12 session series at various sites from 2012-2016. Hour long sessions held weekly. Those included attended five up to 12 sessions.

Methods continued: Study measures: Functional Reach (FRT) and Get up and Go (GUG). Subjects: 74% female, median age 64.8 years. Eleven female subjects reported recent joint replacement.

Get Up and Go (GUG) Assessment tool that calculates normal pace Lower GUG score is desirable.

Results: Get Up and Go—combined scores

Functional Reach (FRT) Measures maximum distance one can reach forward while standing in a fixed position. Higher FRT score is desirable.

Results: Functional Reach Functional Reach Scores of Males and Females (inches) Differences attributable to height and recent joint replacement Determined difference was attributable to height and joint replacement. Point biserial correlation calculation rpb = .178 p = .108 (p value) between gender: rpb = .3, p = .004 (p value)

Discussion/Conclusions Must review results carefully; confounding factors. Funders want meaningful results; Current science can be improved, enhanced.