Impact of Tai Chi Yuttari-exercise on arteriosclerosis and physical function in older people.

Objectives: This non-randomized controlled study investigated the impact of practicing Tai Chi Yuttari-exercise for 1 year on arteriosclerosis status and physical functioning of community-dwelling older people.

Methods: Vascular and physical function were compared between 45 and 44 individuals who had and had not participated in Tai Chi Yuttari classes for 1 year, respectively. Participants deemed unsuitable for exercise by a physician, unable to walk unaided, with severely limited activities of daily living, with serious circulatory or respiratory disease, undergoing treatment for an acute or chronic motor organ disease, with seriously impaired motor function of the upper or lower limbs, with a history of myocardial infarction or cerebral stroke within the previous 6 months, and with previous serious infection were excluded.