Detraining effects of regular Tai Chi exercise on postural control ability in older women: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background/ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the training and detraining effects of Tai Chi (TC) on postural control ability in single leg stance (SLS) by conducting a single-blind randomized controlled trial.MethodForty-eight older women were randomly divided into the TC, brisk walking (BW), and control(C) groups by using computer-generated program. The participants completed a 16-week intervention training and 8-week detraining program. Postural control ability in SLS was tested at the baseline, 16 t h, 20 t h, and 24 t h weeks. The primary outcomes included single-leg stance time (Time) and secondary outcomes included maximal displacement of the center of pressure (COP) in the anterior–posterior (AP) direction (D-ap), maximal displacement of the COP in the medial–lateral (ML) direction (D-ml), total length of the COP trajectories (Lng), and 95% confidence ellipse area of the COP movements (area), mean AP total excursion velocities (V-ap), and mean ML total excursion velocities (V-ml).ResultsSignificant within-group difference compared with the baseline and between-groups difference compared with control group were found at 16 t h, 20 t h, and 24 t h weeks in the TC group and at the 16 t h and 20 t h weeks in the BW group in all the primary and secondary outcomes. Most of secondary outcomes including Lng, D-ml, V-ml, Area increased significantly at the 24 t h week compared with that at the 16 t h week in BW group.ConclusionsTC was effective in improving postural control ability and maintaining intervention gains, and was recommended as an appropriate exercise to prevent falls in the older adults.

System Comparison for Gait and Balance Monitoring Used for the Evaluation of a Home-Based Training

“…For the other stance tasks, reference values for healthy adults in the literature are scarce. One study reported an ellipse area of 138 mm 2 for the single leg stance in a control group of older adults [64], whereas we found values of 878 mm 2 , 3860 mm 2 and 384 mm 3 in our study (averaged values per second: 29 mm 2 , 129 mm 2 and 13 mm 3 ). However, it is unclear if the values were indeed averaged in the cited study.…”

A Systematic Review on Detraining Effects after Balance and Fall Prevention Interventions

“…Through our systematic review protocol, a total of nine studies were considered eligible for inclusion in this study. Four studies showed effects that seemed relatively robust against the effects of detraining [15,20,22,23]. Common among these four seems to be a specific focus on balance training, in the form of aquatic balance training [15], weight-bearing (as opposed to seated) exercise [22], and Tai Chi [20,23].…”

“…Four studies showed effects that seemed relatively robust against the effects of detraining [15,20,22,23]. Common among these four seems to be a specific focus on balance training, in the form of aquatic balance training [15], weight-bearing (as opposed to seated) exercise [22], and Tai Chi [20,23]. However, programs that did not specifically target balance, or did so on low intensity, seem less effective after detraining (i.e., brisk walking, whole body vibration training, low-intensity balance training, seated or weight-bearing resistance training).…”

“…Exercises for which lasting benefits were reported after specified detraining periods were, firstly, an 8-week aquatic balance training (both with and without combining it with vibration training; outcome measures: 5 times sit-to-stand (STS) and timed up and go (TUG) performance; after 8 weeks of detraining [15]). Second, 16 weeks of Tai Chi still had positive effects on one-leg stance performance (strongest effects on eyes open condition [20] and on ankle plantar and dorsal flexion proprioception [23]) after 8 weeks of detraining. Additionally, third, 12 weeks of functional weightbearing exercise still had a positive effect on "coordinated stability" (the ability to draw a line within the lines of a track, using a pen fixed by a rod to the person at waist level) after 12 weeks of detraining [22].…”

Uso de Tai Chi para la salud del adulto mayor: revisión bibliográfica

“…Sin embargo, en el estudio que realizaron Sun W et al 9 , identificaron que al comparar el Tai Chi contra realizar ejercicio (que consistía en caminar rápido), ambos mejoraban el control postural sobre una pierna. Por su parte, Mortazavi H et al 10 , emplearon el Tai Chi para reducir el riesgo de caídas y encontraron que hubo una diferencia significativa entre los grupos al final de la octava y décima semana de práctica (p < 0.001), esto se traduce en que, con el paso del tiempo, el Tai Chi redujo el riesgo de caídas.…”