Effects of Tai Chi exercise on proprioception of ankle and knee joints in old people

METHODS: By detecting the threshold of passive movement, ankle and knee joint kinaesthesis was measured in 21 elderly long term tai chi practitioners (TC group), 20 elderly long term swimmers/runners (S/R group), and 27 elderly sedentary controls (control group). RESULTS: Ankle joint kinaesthesis differed significantly among the three groups. Subjects in the TC group could detect a significantly smaller amount of motion than those in the S/R group and control group. No significant difference was found between the S/R group and the control group. The threshold for detection of passive motion was significantly different in knee extension and flexion. For knee flexion, the TC group showed a significantly lower mean threshold for detection of passive motion than the control group. There were no significant differences between the S/R group and control group, or between the TC group and S/R group. For knee extension, no significant difference was noted among the three groups (p = 0.597). The elderly people who regularly practiced tai chi not only showed better proprioception at the ankle and knee joints than sedentary controls, but also better ankle kinaesthesis than swimmers/runners. The large benefits of tai chi exercise on proprioception may result in the maintenance of balance control in older people.