Yang Yang, Verkuilen Jay V, Rosengren Karl S, Grubisich Scott A, Reed Michael R, Hsiao-Wecksler Elizabeth T
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Med Sci Monit. 2007 Aug;13(8):CR339-48.
Taiji (T'ai Chi) has been shown to have generally positive effects on functional balance. However, few studies have investigated the mechanisms by which Taiji may improve balance. The goal of this study was to evaluate changes in sensory and biomechanical balance mechanisms as a consequence of a traditional Taiji exercise program for healthy older adults that intentionally emphasized both Taiji forms and Qigong meditation.
MATERIAL/METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial with blind testers. Forty-nine healthy older adults (mean age 80.4, SD. 8.6) were randomized to participate in Taiji-Qigong (TQ) training (N=33) or a wait-list control group (WC, N=16). TQ instruction was provided 1 hour/session, 3 sessions a week for six months. Somatosensory, visual, and vestibular ratios of the Sensory Organization Test, and quiet stance Base of Support (BoS) and feet opening angle measures were collected prior to instruction (T0), at two months (T2), and six months (T6).
TQ group vestibular ratio scores (normalized to T0) were +22% and +47% greater than WC at T2 and T6, respectively. The TQ group exhibited an increase in quiet stance BoS over time but not feet opening angle, indicating that the increase in BoS was due to the adoption of wider stances.
Improved use of vestibular input and wider stances are two mechanisms by which Taiji-Qigong training may improve healthy older adults' balance. Further study is needed to evaluate other balance mechanisms and the individual and combined effects of different aspects of traditional Taiji practice.
太极拳已被证明对功能平衡总体上有积极影响。然而，很少有研究调查太极拳改善平衡的机制。本研究的目的是评估一种传统太极拳锻炼计划对健康老年人感觉和生物力学平衡机制的影响，该计划有意强调太极拳招式和气功冥想。
材料/方法：这是一项有盲法测试者的随机对照试验。49名健康老年人（平均年龄80.4岁，标准差8.6岁）被随机分为参加太极 - 气功（TQ）训练组（N = 33）或等待名单对照组（WC，N = 16）。TQ训练为每周3次，每次1小时，共持续6个月。在训练前（T0）、两个月时（T2）和六个月时（T6）收集感觉组织测试的体感、视觉和前庭比例，以及安静站立时的支撑面（BoS）和双脚分开角度测量值。
TQ组的前庭比例得分（相对于T0进行标准化）在T2和T6时分别比WC组高22%和47%。TQ组安静站立时的支撑面随时间增加，但双脚分开角度没有增加，这表明支撑面的增加是由于采用了更宽的站立姿势。
更好地利用前庭输入和更宽的站立姿势是太极 - 气功训练可能改善健康老年人平衡的两种机制。需要进一步研究来评估其他平衡机制以及传统太极拳练习不同方面的个体和综合影响。
