Monografia (especialização)
A prática do tai chi chuan para a saúde do idoso: revisão de literatura
Fecha
2011-11-28Autor
Letícia Sanz Grugel
Institución
Resumen
The process of population aging is a reality in contemporary societies around the
world. Aging is accompanied by multiple losses that compromise the quality of life of
elderly and may bring with it the loss of autonomy and dependence, so the elder
becomes frail. One of the main recommendations to improve the quality of life and
preserve the autonomy and independence is to practice physical activity. Tai Chi
Chuan is a Chinese gymnastics modality and has stood as one activity from light to
moderate-intensity of great popularity among the elderly population in the entire
world. The practice of this exercise has been shown in elderly patients: balance
improvement, promotion of postural stability, cardiovascular and respiratory functions
improvement, reduction of pain and stress and cognition and quality of sleep
improvements. It is benefic to postural control and flexibility while improving muscle
strength and reducing the risk of falls in the elderly. The objective of this paper was to
identify through a critical literature review the effects of the Tai Chi Chuan practice in
the health of the elderly. All the data basis indexed in the Virtual Health Library and
Pub Med have been consulted. The researches were carried on in 2010 and were
restricted to scientific articles with complete text in English, Portuguese and Spanish,
published in 2005 and after that, available in the those data basis. The following key
words and their synonymous in all chosen languages registered in the Health
Sciences Descriptors were used: elderly and tai chi. Eight papers were selected
which used TCC in different styles, such as intervention in elderly subjects with age
greater than or equal to 59 years old. From the analysis of the articles was possible,
despite different cultures and results, to conclude that Tai Chi Chuan can be an
enjoyable and affordable opportunity for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However,
further studies are needed about the effects of Tai Chi Chuan for the health of the
elderly, and thus conclude how the variables associated which this type of activity, is
able to provide in the positive effects of elderly persons life quality.