Combined effects of Tai-Chi gait with mediolateral ground support perturbation on dynamic balance control

Tai-Chi (TC) is a broadly used exercise that appeared to decrease the risk of falls. However, biomechanical mechanisms underlying the reduced fall risks following TC exercise remain unclear and hinder the ability to optimize TC intervention to target specific balance deficit disorders. In addition,...

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Main Authors: Jacob Smith, Troilyn Jackson, Wei Liu, Jonathan Gelfond, Hao-Yuan Hsiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-05-01
Series:Sports Medicine and Health Science
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666337624000817
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author Jacob Smith
Troilyn Jackson
Wei Liu
Jonathan Gelfond
Hao-Yuan Hsiao
author_facet Jacob Smith
Troilyn Jackson
Wei Liu
Jonathan Gelfond
Hao-Yuan Hsiao
author_sort Jacob Smith
collection DOAJ
description Tai-Chi (TC) is a broadly used exercise that appeared to decrease the risk of falls. However, biomechanical mechanisms underlying the reduced fall risks following TC exercise remain unclear and hinder the ability to optimize TC intervention to target specific balance deficit disorders. In addition, combining TC gait exercise with ground support perturbation may be a viable approach to further challenge balance control compared to TC gait alone. The purpose of this study was to compare dynamic stability and limb support force production during comfortable walking speed (CWS), TC gait, and TC gait with medial (MED) and lateral (LAT) ground support perturbations in older and younger adults. Ten older adults and ten younger adults performed CWS, TC gait, LAT, and MED. Conditions involving TC gait showed decreased margin of stability (MoS) (main effect of condition, p ​< ​0.01) and increased vertical force impulse compared to CWS (p ​< ​0.01). Medial ground support perturbation induced the smallest MoS among all conditions. Older adults showed increased MoS compared to younger adults (p ​< ​0.01). These findings provided insight into how key balance control characteristics are modulated during TC exercise and indicate that combining ground support perturbation with TC may further challenge dynamic stability.
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spelling doaj-art-6588230b0f574c8e8e3f3d8b388a3aa12025-02-01T04:12:00ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Sports Medicine and Health Science2666-33762025-05-0173208213Combined effects of Tai-Chi gait with mediolateral ground support perturbation on dynamic balance controlJacob Smith0Troilyn Jackson1Wei Liu2Jonathan Gelfond3Hao-Yuan Hsiao4University of Texas at Austin, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, TX, USAUniversity of Texas at Austin, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, TX, USAUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Department of Physical Therapy, TX, USAUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine, TX, USAUniversity of Texas at Austin, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, TX, USA; Corresponding author. University of Texas at Austin, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, TX, USATai-Chi (TC) is a broadly used exercise that appeared to decrease the risk of falls. However, biomechanical mechanisms underlying the reduced fall risks following TC exercise remain unclear and hinder the ability to optimize TC intervention to target specific balance deficit disorders. In addition, combining TC gait exercise with ground support perturbation may be a viable approach to further challenge balance control compared to TC gait alone. The purpose of this study was to compare dynamic stability and limb support force production during comfortable walking speed (CWS), TC gait, and TC gait with medial (MED) and lateral (LAT) ground support perturbations in older and younger adults. Ten older adults and ten younger adults performed CWS, TC gait, LAT, and MED. Conditions involving TC gait showed decreased margin of stability (MoS) (main effect of condition, p ​< ​0.01) and increased vertical force impulse compared to CWS (p ​< ​0.01). Medial ground support perturbation induced the smallest MoS among all conditions. Older adults showed increased MoS compared to younger adults (p ​< ​0.01). These findings provided insight into how key balance control characteristics are modulated during TC exercise and indicate that combining ground support perturbation with TC may further challenge dynamic stability.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666337624000817Tai-ChiGaitDynamic stabilityPerturbationBalanceAging
spellingShingle Jacob Smith
Troilyn Jackson
Wei Liu
Jonathan Gelfond
Hao-Yuan Hsiao
Combined effects of Tai-Chi gait with mediolateral ground support perturbation on dynamic balance control
Sports Medicine and Health Science
Tai-Chi
Gait
Dynamic stability
Perturbation
Balance
Aging
title Combined effects of Tai-Chi gait with mediolateral ground support perturbation on dynamic balance control
title_full Combined effects of Tai-Chi gait with mediolateral ground support perturbation on dynamic balance control
title_fullStr Combined effects of Tai-Chi gait with mediolateral ground support perturbation on dynamic balance control
title_full_unstemmed Combined effects of Tai-Chi gait with mediolateral ground support perturbation on dynamic balance control
title_short Combined effects of Tai-Chi gait with mediolateral ground support perturbation on dynamic balance control
title_sort combined effects of tai chi gait with mediolateral ground support perturbation on dynamic balance control
topic Tai-Chi
Gait
Dynamic stability
Perturbation
Balance
Aging
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666337624000817
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AT troilynjackson combinedeffectsoftaichigaitwithmediolateralgroundsupportperturbationondynamicbalancecontrol
AT weiliu combinedeffectsoftaichigaitwithmediolateralgroundsupportperturbationondynamicbalancecontrol
AT jonathangelfond combinedeffectsoftaichigaitwithmediolateralgroundsupportperturbationondynamicbalancecontrol
AT haoyuanhsiao combinedeffectsoftaichigaitwithmediolateralgroundsupportperturbationondynamicbalancecontrol