Coordination exercise and postural stability in elderly people: Effect of Tai Chi Chuan.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of coordination exercise on postural stability in older individuals by Chinese shadow boxing, Tai Chi Chuan (TCC).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Research project in a hospital-based biomechanical laboratory.


METHODS
The TCC group (n = 25) had been practicing TCC regularly for 2 to 35 years. The control group (n = 14) included healthy and active older subjects.


METHODS
Static postural stability test: progressively harder sequential tests with 6 combinations of vision (eyes open, eyes closed, sway-referenced) and support (fixed, sway-referenced); and dynamic balance test: 3 tests of weight shifting (left to right, forward-backward, multidirectional) at 3 speeds.


METHODS
Static and dynamic balance of Sensory Organization Testing (SOT) of the Smart Balance Master System.


RESULTS
In static postural control, the results showed no differences between the TCC or control group in the more simple conditions, but in the more complicated SOT (eyes closed with sway surface, sway vision with sway surface), the TCC group had significantly better results than the control group. The TCC group also had significantly better results in the rhythmic forward-backward weight-shifting test. Duration of practice did not seem to affect the stability of elder people.


CONCLUSIONS
The elderly people who regularly practiced TCC showed better postural stability in the more challenged conditions than those who do not (eg, the condition with simultaneous disturbance of vision and proprioception). TCC as a coordination exercise may reduce the risk of a fall through maintaining the ability of posture control.
Wong
A M
AM
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan. walice@adm.cgmh.org.tw
Lin
Y C
YC
Chou
S W
SW
Tang
F T
FT
Wong
P Y
PY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001914:Boxing / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*