title: Balance Performance in Irradiated Survivors of Nasopharyngeal Cancer with and without Tai Chi Qigong Training.
abstract: This cross-sectional exploratory study aimed to compare the one-leg-stance time and the six-minute walk distance among TC Qigong-trained NPC survivors, untrained NPC survivors, and healthy individuals. Twenty-five survivors of NPC with TC Qigong experience, 27 survivors of NPC without TC Qigong experience, and 68 healthy individuals formed the NPC-TC Qigong group, NPC-control group, and healthy-control group, respectively. The one-leg-stance (OLS) timed test was conducted to assess the single-leg standing balance performance of the participants in four conditions: (1) standing on a stable surface with eyes open, (2) standing on a compliant surface with eyes open, (3) standing on a stable surface with eyes closed, and (4) standing on a compliant surface with eyes closed. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) was used to determine the functional balance performance of the participants. Results showed that the NPC-control group had a shorter OLS time in all of the visual and supporting surface conditions than the healthy control group (P < 0.05). The OLS time of the TC Qigong-NPC group was comparable to that of the healthy control group in the somatosensory-challenging condition (condition 3) (P = 0.168) only. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the 6MWT distance among the three groups (P > 0.05). TC Qigong may be a rehabilitation exercise that improves somatosensory function and OLS balance performance among survivors of NPC.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Shirley S M
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Physical Education, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Louisa M Y
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: William W N
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing and Health Studies, Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Joyce C Y
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing and Health Studies, Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Caroline Y C
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Charm
authors.affiliation: The Association of Licentiates of the Medical Council of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Luk
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Physical Education, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Lina P Y
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Shamay S M
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ng