Effects of Tai Chi on a Functional Arm Reaching Task in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Author: Varghese R1, Hui-Chan CW, Bhatt T.
Affiliation:
1Motor Behavior and Balance Rehabilitation Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Conference/Journal: J Aging Phys Act.
Date published: 2014 Jul 8
Other:
Word Count: 151
Abstract
This study quantified the effect of aging and the long-term practice of Tai Chi on upper limb movement control, indicated by performance-outcome (temporal) and performance-production (amplitude) measures, on a multi-planar, stand-reaching (i.e. functional) task. Twelve Tai Chi practitioners (TCP), 11 age-matched, older non-practitioners (ONP) and 12 young subjects performed cued, flexion- and abduction-reaching tasks using a custom set-up. Surface-EMG and acceleration data sampled from wireless sensors rendered performance-outcome (reaction time, burst duration, time-to-peak and movement time) and performance-production (normalized EMG amplitude and peak acceleration) measures. Young subjects and TCP demonstrated better performance-outcome and performance-production than ONP. Relative-effect computations (i.e. the effect of Tai Chi expressed as a percentage of the effect of aging) showed that TCP exhibited approximately 20-60% (flexion) and 20-100% (abduction) improvement in reaching task performance compared to ONP. Tai Chi practitioners displayed better arm movement control than ONP on a relatively challenging and functional stand-reaching task.
PMID: 25007862
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