In an interesting twist on studies of falling, researchers found that the frequency of fear of falling was reduced from 56% to 31% in a large group of adults 70 years and older who practised tai chi regularly. Confidence about not falling, and self-confidence in general, may be an unintended benefit of tai chi but one that is certainly worth pursuing.
In a similar tai chi study of older adults, 54% of the subjects who practised tai chi attributed their improved sense of confidence to improved balance. The authors concluded that “when mental as well as physical control is perceived to be enhanced, with a generalised sense of improvement in overall well-being, older persons’ motivation to continue exercising also increases.”