Effect of 1-year regular Tai Chi on neuromuscular reaction in elderly women: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

This study assessed the effect of 1-year regular Tai Chi (TC) on neuromuscular reaction in elderly women. A total of 41 elderly women (55 years-68 years) completed the study. The TC group (n = 21) performed the 24-form TC, while the control group (C, n = 20) was instructed to read newspapers or watch television when the TC group practised. Electromyogram measurements were conducted before and after intervention. After a year-long intervention, the post-test results of between-group neuromuscular reaction time showed significant differences in the rectus femoris (t = 3.607, p = 0.001), semitendinosus (t = 2.678, p = 0.011), anterior tibialis (t = 3.455, p = 0.001), and gastrocnemius muscles (t = 4.061, p = 0.000). Within-group results showed that the TC group had significantly shorter neuromuscular reaction time compared to its baseline value in the rectus femoris (t = 3.066, p = 0.006), semitendinosus (t = 2.485, p = 0.022), anterior tibialis (t = 2.311, p = 0.032), and gastrocnemius muscles (t = 2.462, p = 0.023). Results suggested that year-long regular TC can improve neuromuscular reaction function in elderly women.

Effects of Overweight and Obesity on Postural Stability of Aging Females

“…Participants who did not have a history of regular exercise in the past three months have taken part in this study. The exclusion criteria, as diagnosed by a physician, were a history of falls, neurological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson's symptoms, diabetes, musculoskeletal diseases, and any regular exercise experience since three months ago (7,23,24). After getting the medical certificate, females who diseased (except obesity) and who were taking medications were excluded from the study.…”

“…Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation and are associated with changes in body geometry and posture disorders (4)(5)(6). Postural stability is essential for the high-quality performance of activities of daily living (ADLs) in older age (7). Impaired postural stability is strongly associated with a risk of falls, and its complications are getting worse with aging (8,9).…”

Tai Chi Exercise for the Quality of Life in a Perimenopausal Women Organization: A Systematic Review

“…In spite of the insignificant effect of Tai Chi on the hip dimension of BMD in our study, some related studies have indicated that it may associated with a significant advantage in pelvic disease, mainly in terms of the reduction of post‐surgical acute and chronic pain and chronic pelvic pain caused by endometriosis (Gizzo et al., ; Lauche et al., ; McGibbon et al., ; Sun et al., ), which we assumed had something to do with the following: Research has shown that nerve injury or entrapment occurring during or following surgical procedures seems to be the main cause for the occurrence of chronic pain after pelvic surgery (Gizzo et al., ). Tai Chi is a complex, multicomponent exercise, and it is possible that it impacts nerve remodeling via multiple processes (Gizzo et al., ).…”

“…Tai Chi is a complex, multicomponent exercise, and it is possible that it impacts nerve remodeling via multiple processes (Gizzo et al., ). Randomized studies have reported that Tai Chi exercise can favorably reorganize neuromuscular patterns, resulting in reduced excessive hip compensation, which may alleviative chronic pain after pelvic surgery (Lauche et al., ; McGibbon et al., ; Sun et al., ).…”

“…() that focused on the effects of Tai Chi on psychological well‐being concluded that Tai Chi alleviated anxiety, depression, and emotional disturbance, and enhanced self‐efficacy. What is more, since Tai Chi could affect neural activity, impact nerve remodeling, and reorganize neuromuscular patterns (Lauche et al., ; McGibbon et al., ; Sun et al., ), it may be associated with a significant advantage in terms of reduction of post‐surgical acute and chronic pain (Gizzo et al., ), chronic pelvic pain in endometriosis (Triolo, Laganà, & Sturlese, ), and certain cancer care.…”