Tai Chi practice reduces movement force variability for sectors

Journal/Book: J Gerontol Ser A Biol Sci Med. 1999; 54: 1275 K Street NW Suite 350, Washington, DC 20005-4006, USA. Gerontological Society Amer. M629-M634.

Abstract: Background. The purpose of this study was to examine whether Tai Chi practice can reduce the inconsistency of arm movement force output in older adults. Methods. Twenty seniors tool; part in the 8-week-long exercise intervention program (12 in Tai Chi practice, M = 79.3 years, SD = 2.4; and 8 in a locomotor activity group, walking or jogging, M = 79.5 years, SD = 1.9). Linear and curvilinear manual aiming movements were tested at the beginning (pretest), during 4th week (retest), and the end of the exercise program (post-test). The measure of vertical pressure on the surface of a tablet served as the dependent variable. Results. The findings suggest that the Tai Chi participants significantly reduce more pressure variability than the participants in locomotor activity group after 8 weeks of practice. Additionally seniors produced higher pressure variability in the curvilinear task than in the linear task. Conclusions. Evidence from this study proposes that Tai Chi practice may serve as a better real world exercise for reducing force variability in older adults' manual performance.

Note: Article Yan JH, Univ Houston, Dept Hlth & Human Performance, Houston,TX 77204 USA

Keyword(s): AGE-RELATED DIFFERENCES; OLDER ADULTS; ELDERLY HUMANS; MOTOR-OUTPUT; BALANCE; EXERCISE

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