Tai Chi Chuan to improve muscular strength and endurance in elderly individuals: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the training effect of a Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) program on knee extensor muscular strength and endurance in elderly individuals.


METHODS
Before-after trial.


METHODS
Community setting.


METHODS
Forty-one community dwelling subjects aged 61.1 +/- 9.8 years undertook a TCC program. Nine dropped out during the study. Pretraining and posttraining measurements were obtained from 15 men and 17 women.


METHODS
Subjects participated in a 6-month TCC program. Each session consisted of 20 minutes of warm-up, 24 minutes of structured TCC training, and 10 minutes of cool-down exercises.


METHODS
Peak torque of dominant and nondominant knee extensors was tested at speeds of 60 degrees , 180 degrees , and 240 degrees/sec concentrically and eccentrically. Muscular endurance of the knee extensor was tested at the speed of 180 degrees /sec.


RESULTS
In the group of men, concentric knee extensor peak torque increased by 15.1% to 20.0% and eccentric peak torque increased by 15.1% to 23.7%. The group of women also showed increases, ranging from 13.5% to 21.8% in concentric peak torque, and 18.3% to 23.8% in eccentric peak torque. In addition, the knee extensor endurance ratio increased by 9.6% to 18.8% in the men and 10.1% to 14.6% in the women.


CONCLUSIONS
TCC training may enhance muscular strength and endurance of knee extensors in elderly individuals.
Lan
C
C
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei.
Lai
J S
JS
Chen
S Y
SY
Wong
M K
MK
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome