The depth of its impact in the consciousness of medical researchers may be seen by the fact that in reviews for two disparate conditions (phantom limb pain54 and stress incontinence in women55), the authors specifically comment on the absence of Tai Ji Quan studies
related to these conditions. However, BKM120 it is more clearly evident in the increasing number of studies using Tai Ji Quan to address a growing array of conditions ranging from age-related decline in physical function to psychological well-being and metabolic pathologies. Unfortunately, very little of the work done to date is part of a deliberate and well-planned strategy to systematically address efficacy, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness issues related to Tai Ji Quan as an intervention to prevent health declines or to enhance physical and psychological function. Despite the high quality of some individual research projects, methodological weaknesses in Tai Ji Quan efficacy
studies and the overall disjointed and inconsistent research approach to examining Tai Ji Quan does not provide sufficient grounds for governmental or non-governmental organizations to underwrite comprehensive implementation of Tai Ji Quan for the good of the public’s health.10 and 53 Concerted, systematic and coordinated long-term research SNS-032 clinical trial programs by individual researchers or collaborative groups are critical if the full potential of Tai Ji Quan to enhance health-related quality of life is to be realized on a broad scale. The work presented in this paper is supported in part by a research grant from the National Institute on Aging (AG034956). “
“Falls and fall-related injuries among older adults (those aged 65 and older) are a substantial Bay 11-7085 challenge to public health worldwide. The world population is aging due to rising life expectancies combined with declining birth rates. Globally, the number of
older persons is growing by 2% per year, considerably faster than the population as a whole. By 2050, the number of persons aged 60 and older in the world will exceed the number of younger adults for the first time in history.1 These changing demographics will increase the pressure on public health organizations and healthcare systems that maintain older adults’ health and quality of life. The reported proportion of older adults who fall each year differs among countries and areas, with estimates of 14% in Taiwan, China,2 15% in Japan,3 30% in the US,4 31% in Mainland, China,2 34% in Chile,5 and 46% in Spain.6 Many types of organizations are working to address this important public health problem including international organizations such as the World Health Organization.