Effects of a 16-week Tai Chi intervention on cutaneous sensitivity and proprioception among older adults with and without sensory loss
Author: Teng Zhang1, Min Mao2, Wei Sun1, Li Li3, Yan Chen1, Cui Zhang4, Xinyan Zhang5, Qipeng Song1
Affiliation:
1 College of Sports and Health, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, China.
2 Department of Allied Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA.
3 Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, USA.
4 Lab of Biomechanics, Shandong Institute of Sport Science, Jinan, China.
5 Department of Statistics and Analytical Sciences, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA.
Conference/Journal: Res Sports Med
Date published: 2021 Mar 28
Other:
Special Notes: doi: 10.1080/15438627.2021.1906673. , Word Count: 165
This study investigated the effects of a 16-week Tai Chi (TC) intervention on cutaneous sensitivity and proprioception among older adults with and without sensory loss. Thirty-six older adults were divided into sensory loss and control groups, and they underwent a 16-week TC intervention. Significant interactions were detected in heel cutaneous sensitivity (p = 0.046, F = 4.419) and knee flexion (p = 0.043, F = 4.580), extension (p = 0.027, F = 5.529) and ankle plantar-flexion proprioception (p = 0.037, F = 4.860). The post hoc test indicated that in the sensory loss group, heel cutaneous sensitivity threshold (p = 0.034) and knee flexion (p = 0.004), extension (p = 0.002) and ankle plantar-flexion (p = 0.023) proprioception threshold decreased at week 17, whereas in the control group, knee flexion (p = 0.029) proprioception threshold decreased at week 17. TC intervention improved cutaneous sensitivity at more sites and proprioception in more joints among the older adults with sensory loss. TC intervention is a good option for older adults to exercise, and it is more effective among older adults with sensory loss.
Keywords: Kinaesthesia; Tai Chi Chuan; monofilaments; peripheral neuropathy; plantar sensitivity.
PMID: 33779438 DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2021.1906673
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