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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| The symbolic value of tai chi for older people | | Author(s) | Peter Scourfield |
| Journal title | Quality in Ageing, vol 7, no 2, June 2006 |
| Pages | pp 4-12 |
| Source | http://www.pavpub.com |
| Keywords | Exercise ; Falls ; Preventative medicine ; Projects ; Cambridge ; South Cambridgeshire. |
| Annotation | The prevention and management of falls is a key part of Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire PCT's Improving Health Programme. This article is based on a small-scale study into tai chi for older people at risk of falling. The aims of the research were first, to explore what benefits the class members felt they derived from practising tai chi; and second and more specifically, whether or not class members actually practised tai chi at home. The study was based on two broad assumptions: that the practice of tai chi has benefits for older people at risk of falling; and that such benefits that might result from tai chi, increase with more frequent practice. The latter assumption prompted the desire to investigate whether class members practised tai chi at home. The research revealed that class members did not believe that tai chi had necessarily reduced their risk of falling. However, notwithstanding this, their commitment to tai chi was very strong. The findings suggest that tai chi had a symbolic value for this predominantly middle class group. It allowed them to "buy into" a third age lifestyle, despite increasing limitations of entering the fourth age. The members used tai chi, not only to improve balance and fitness, but also as a means of achieving a positive self-image. It was therefore an age-resisting strategy that operated on both a physical and symbolic level. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-061107201 A |
| Classmark | CEA: OLF: LK2: 3E: 8CF: 8CFA |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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