Tai Chi Can Improve Postural Control During Upper Limb Movement for Healthy Elderly

<p> <p id="x-x-x-P11"> <strong> Purpose: </strong> Aim of the study was to examine the effects of Tai Chi (TC) training on postural control when upright standing was perturbed by upper limb movement. <p id="x-x-x-P12"> <strong> Methods: </strong> Three groups, TC, Brisk walk (BW), and Sedentary (SE), of thirty-six participants aged form 65 to 75 years old were recruited from local community centers. Participants performed six different upper extremity fitting tasks (two different reaching distances X three different opening sizes to fit through). During fitting tasks, the COP data was recorded while standing on the force plate. Three-way ANOVA with repeated measure used to examine the effects of group, reaching distances and opening sizes. Criteria measures calculated from COP data were distance in anterior-posterior (DAP) and medial-lateral directions (DML), 95% area (AREA) and average velocity (VEL). </p> <p> <strong> Results: </strong> Significant linear trends (P&lt;.05) observed for reaching different distances and fitting different openings for variables reported in Table 1 &amp; 2. TC group were least effected by upper body motion in both reaching for further distance and fitting object to smaller openings. <p id="x-x-x-P14"> <strong> Conclusions: </strong> Long-term TC exercise helps reduce the effects of upper body perturbation as measured by posture sway, comparing to the other two groups. </p> </p> </p></p>