Effect of Baduanjin on Balance and Fall Risk in Elderly Individuals

Aging is a biological process that begins with the birth of individuals and continues until death. With advancing age, the human body enters a process in which structural and functional changes occur and may differ between individuals. Approximately 50-75% of individuals over the age of 65 experience balance and ambulation problems. Balance in living things is the ability to keep the body gravity line within stability limits and to maintain this. Balance disorders can be seen as a result of pathological disorders such as neurological diseases, sensory disorders or muscle weakness, as well as the loss of muscle strength and sensory functions observed during the normal aging process or the decrease in the speed of sensory motor responses. Although the balance system in humans is at an optimal level in early adulthood, deteriorations are observed after approximately the age of 50. In recent years, the importance of physical activity has begun to be emphasized more in order to remind individuals that they are a productive part of society in old age, to minimize the inadequacies, disabilities and discomforts that occur with aging, and to enable them to continue their lives independently. Physical activity is central to most programs designed to reduce the risk of falling and can work with strength, balance, and other physiological and psychological pathways. When the literature is examined, current studies have shown that older individuals have positive perspectives on traditional aerobic exercise. Tai Chi has been proven to improve balance and physical function. Qigong, which emerged before Tai Chi, is considered another traditional aerobic exercise preferred by older individuals who are intolerant of intense physical activities. Baduanjin exercise (Eight-Part Exercises or Eight-Part Brocades), an important complementary part of Qigong, consists of eight separate postures (supporting the chest, drawing bows to both sides, lifting one hand, practicing looking back, waving the hand and wagging the tail, touching the feet with both hands, climbing with both hands, and relaxing your back). Baduanjin is a series of exercises that are a qigong (chi kung) practice of Chinese origin. The term "Ba Duan Jin" means "eight pieces of brocade" or "eight silk ropes" in Chinese. This exercise series includes a series of movements that include body posture, breath control, and mental concentration. The main purpose of Baduanjin is to increase energy (chi or qi) circulation, provide balance in the body, increase flexibility, and improve overall health. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the free circulation of chi and its balanced distribution in the body are the keys to a healthy life. This exercise series aims to create a balance in physical, mental, and energetic terms. Each of them can have beneficial effects on different parts of the body or specific organs. Similar to Tai Chi, Baduanjin exercise is also considered a multi-component therapy that combines physical, psychosocial, cognitive, and spiritual components. Compared to Tai Chi, Baduanjin exercise has fewer physical and cognitive requirements, making it very suitable for short-term application in elderly individuals. In this context, the study aims to determine the effect of Baduanjin by reducing or completely eliminating the risk of loss of balance and falls in elderly individuals, and aims to shed light on future studies.