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Facilitators and Barriers to Elders’ Practice of T’ai Chi

A Mind-Body, Low-Intensity Exercise

Fooyin Institute of Technology, Taiwan

Mariah Snyder, R.N., Ph.D., F.A.A.N.

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Kathleen Krichbaum, R.N., Ph.D.

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Research has documented the positive effects that t’ai chi has on the well-being of elders. However, the reasons that elders practice t’ai chi have not been explored. The purpose of this study was to describe the facilitators and barriers to t’ai chi practice in elderly populations. Taiwanese community-dwelling elders (40 of whom practiced t’ai chi and 40 who did not) aged 65 and older, matched on age and gender, were interviewed. Results showed that encouragement from others was the most important factor for elders to practice t’ai chi, whereas positive health outcomes were the reason they continued to practice it. Most of the non-t’ai chi group participants had never thought about practicing t’ai chi because they felt they were too weak to practice. Because t’ai chi can be helpful in promoting the well-being of elders, it is essential for health care professionals to overcome the barriers to its uses in elderly populations.

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