title: Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on body stability among the elderly during stair descent under different levels of illumination.
abstract: The elderly are prone to stair descent falls under low illumination. Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese conditioning exercise, has been proved to improve body stability by altering body condition, gait, and proprioception. This study investigates whether Tai Chi exercise could improve body stability during stair descent under high and low illumination. Three groups of elderly women who practice Tai Chi, brisk walking, and no exercise were included. They descended from a simulated staircase. Tai Chi participants decreased horizontal velocity, centre of mass (COM) sway, and increased foot clearance compared with other participants, these movements could increase body stability; Compared with under high illumination, Tai Chi participants decreased horizontal velocity, loading rate, braking impulse, and increased inclination angle, COM sway, centre of pressure displacement under low illumination. Tai Chi participants were more sensitive to the difference in illumination, and took corresponding strategies to stabilize their bodies during stair descent.
authors.affiliation: a Shanghai University of sport , Shanghai , China.|b Shandong Institute of Sport Science , Jinan , China.
authors.forename: Qipeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: a Shanghai University of sport , Shanghai , China.|b Shandong Institute of Sport Science , Jinan , China.
authors.forename: Xuewen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: c Shandong Sport University , Jinan , China.
authors.forename: Del
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: a Shanghai University of sport , Shanghai , China.|b Shandong Institute of Sport Science , Jinan , China.
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: a Shanghai University of sport , Shanghai , China.|b Shandong Institute of Sport Science , Jinan , China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: d Qingdao University , Qingdao , China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: a Shanghai University of sport , Shanghai , China.|c Shandong Sport University , Jinan , China.
authors.forename: Dewei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008029:Lighting; D008875:Middle Aged; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods* / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance; D000072799:Stair Climbing / Q000502:physiology*; D026302:Tai Ji; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Aged; fall; gait; stair walking