In addition, maintaining reliable program resources, including ongoing funding support, is essential for long-term sustainability. There are a number of important research questions that need to be addressed in order to maximize the effectiveness of Tai Ji Quan fall prevention programs. At the organizational check details level, questions include,

“How can we improve leadership and/or community support for Tai Ji Quan programs?”, “How can we increase the capacity of the existing health promotion infrastructure to effectively deliver Tai Ji Quan fall prevention programs?”, and “How can these programs be promoted and sustained by service providers such as healthcare providers, public health and community-based organizations, and allied health professionals? Research questions at the individual level include, “What is the best way to teach Tai Ji Quan to older adults?”, “What is the optimal frequency, duration, and intensity of practice that will produce the best outcomes?”, “What are the most clinically

relevant fall-related outcomes and how should these be measured?”, “What are the characteristics of participants who will be most likely to benefit?”, and “How can we support long-term adherence of Tai Ji Quan practice among older adults? Older adult falls are a significant public health problem and one that is expected to increase as our population ages. Tai Ji Quan has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing falls and associated injuries among older adults, as well as see more reducing the symptoms of some chronic conditions and improving overall health and well-being. To have a positive impact on the health of older adults, Tai Ji Quan programs must be adapted to meet their needs and abilities. Finally, to

become widely adopted, these programs also also must be modified to fit into existing community structures, broadly implemented by organizations, and institutionalized to ensure sustainability. We would like to thank Dr. Tamara Haegerich for her thoughtful comments and helpful suggestions. This work was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through intramural funding and supported in part by an appointment to the Research Participation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the US Department of Energy and CDC. “
“Falls are a major public health problem worldwide and pose a threat to the health and independence of older adults.1 In the United States, each year, one out of three Americans aged 65 years and older fall.