Sitting tai chi improves the balance control and muscle strength of community-dwelling persons with spinal cord injuries: a pilot study.
Author: Tsang WW1, Gao KL1, Chan KM2, Purves S1, Macfarlane DJ3, Fong SS3.
Affiliation:
1Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong. 2Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. 3Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Conference/Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.
Date published: 2015
Other:
Volume ID: 2015 , Pages: 523852 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1155/2015/523852 , Word Count: 198
Abstract
Objective. To investigate the effects of sitting Tai Chi on muscle strength, balance control, and quality of life (QOL) among survivors with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Methods. Eleven SCI survivors participated in the sitting Tai Chi training (90 minutes/session, 2 times/week for 12 weeks) and eight SCI survivors acted as controls. Dynamic sitting balance was evaluated using limits of stability test and a sequential weight shifting test in sitting. Handgrip strength was also tested using a hand-held dynamometer. QOL was measured using the World Health Organization's Quality of Life Scale. Results. Tai Chi practitioners achieved significant improvements in their reaction time (P = 0.042); maximum excursion (P = 0.016); and directional control (P = 0.025) in the limits of stability test after training. In the sequential weight shifting test, they significantly improved their total time to sequentially hit the 12 targets (P = 0.035). Significant improvement in handgrip strength was also found among the Tai Chi practitioners (P = 0.049). However, no significant within and between-group differences were found in the QOL outcomes (P > 0.05). Conclusions. Twelve weeks of sitting Tai Chi training could improve the dynamic sitting balance and handgrip strength, but not QOL, of the SCI survivors.
PMID: 25688276 [PubMed] PMCID: PMC4320788
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2015/523852/
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