Effects of regular Tai Chi practice and jogging on neuromuscular reaction during lateral postural control in older people.

Author: Wang SJ1,2, Xu DQ2, Li JX3
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>a Institute of Physical Education , Beifang University of Nationalities , Yinchuan , China. <sup>2</sup>b Department of Health &amp; Exercise Science , Tianjin University of Sport , Tianjin , China. <sup>3</sup>c School of Human Kinetics , University of Ottawa , Ottawa , Canada.
Conference/Journal: Res Sports Med.
Date published: 2016 Nov 19
Other: Volume ID: 1-7 , Word Count: 160

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.

KEYWORDS: Lateral stability; Tai Chi; jogging; muscle latency; neuromuscular reaction

PMID: 27868426 DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2016.1258649