Community-Based Exercise Interventions The Impact of Walking and Tai Chi on Physical and Mental Health in Older Adults

Abstract

The global aging population necessitates evidence-based non-pharmacological interventions to maintain functional independence and prevent disability. This three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial investigated the differential effects of walking and Tai Chi interventions on physical and mental health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults, hypothesizing that exercise modality-specific adaptations would align with their distinct movement characteristics. One hundred twenty participants aged 65-80 years were randomly allocated to progressive walking (n=40), 24-form Tai Chi (n=40), or health education control (n=40) groups for 12 weeks. Primary outcomes included 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS), with secondary measures of anxiety and quality of life. The walking group achieved superior cardiovascular improvements with 6MWD increases of 52 meters versus 8 meters in controls (p<0.001, Cohen's d=0.82), consistent with aerobic training specificity. Tai Chi participants demonstrated greater balance enhancement with BBS improvements of 4.8 points versus 0.3 points in controls (p<0.001, d=0.75), reflecting neuromuscular adaptations from weight-shifting and proprioceptive challenges. Both exercise groups experienced comparable anxiety reductions of approximately 30%, suggesting common psychological pathways independent of movement patterns. Retention exceeded 87% across all groups with no serious adverse events. These findings support precision exercise prescription based on individual functional priorities, challenging one-size-fits-all recommendations and informing targeted interventions for cardiovascular fitness versus fall prevention in geriatric populations.