Tai Chi can Improve Postural Control during Upper Limb movement for Healthy Elderly

1215 Board #8 May 28, 8

00 AM - 9

30 AM

PURPOSE: 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.

METHODS: 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).

RESULTS: Significant linear trends (P<.05) observed for reaching different distances and fitting different openings for variables reported in Table 1 & 2. TC group were least effected by upper body motion in both reaching for further distance and fitting object to smaller openings.

CONCLUSIONS: Long-term TC exercise helps reduce the effects of upper body perturbation as measured by posture sway, comparing to the other two groups.

Table 1: Different COP measures showed TC group affected less by reaching distance

Table 2: Different COP measures showed TC group affected less by fitting opening size