title: Effects of regular Tai Chi practice and jogging on neuromuscular reaction during lateral postural control in older people.
abstract: This study examined the effects of regular Tai Chi practice and jogging on the neuromuscular activity of the trunk, hip, and ankle joint muscles of older people during lateral postural perturbation. A total of 42 older people participated in the study and formed the Tai Chi, jogging, and sedentary control groups. Electromyography signals were collected from the peroneus longus, anterior tibialis, gluteus medius, and erector spinae during unpredictable mediolateral perturbation. The Tai Chi group exhibited significantly faster latencies of the tibialis anterior and erector spinae than the control group. The jogging group showed a significantly shorter neuromuscular reaction time of the erector spinae than the control group. No significant difference was observed between the Tai Chi and jogging groups. Long-term regular Tai Chi practice enhanced the neuromuscular reaction of the erector spinae and tibialis anterior to lateral perturbation and will help timely posture correction when lateral postural distributions occur.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Physical Education , Beifang University of Nationalities , Yinchuan , China.|b Department of Health & Exercise Science , Tianjin University of Sport , Tianjin , China.
authors.forename: Shao-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: b Department of Health & Exercise Science , Tianjin University of Sport , Tianjin , China.
authors.forename: Dong-Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: c School of Human Kinetics , University of Ottawa , Ottawa , Canada.
authors.forename: Jing-Xian
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007590:Jogging / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D026302:Tai Ji; D060726:Torso / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Lateral stability; Tai Chi; jogging; muscle latency; neuromuscular reaction