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Effect Of One Year Tai Chi Practice On Plantar Pressure The Balance Capability Of Elderly People

Posted on:2012-07-11Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:L FanFull Text:PDF
GTID:2247330395987862Subject:Human Movement Science
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
Objective:Exploring the effects and mechanism of one year Tai Chi practice to the balance ability of practitioners by means of dynamic and static balance tests and plantar pressure distribution analysis, and trying to provide scientific basis for Taiji practice.Subjects and methods:28subjects that practiced one year’s Tai Chi (14elderly and14young people respectively) as the experimental group. The control group was28people who did not practice Tai Chi (14elderly and14young people). Testing items of the experimental group included:single leg standing with eyes closed, and plantar pressure distribution of four Tai Chi features movements:YEMAFENZONG, YUNSHOU, YOULANQUEWEI and DAOJUANGONG. Testing items of the control group included GUGT, single leg standing with eyes closed.Results:The GUGT time of the elderly experimental group was significantly less than that of the elderly control group, the eyes closed single-leg stance time of the elderly experimental group was significantly longer than that of elderly control group; The characteristics of GUGT and single leg standing with eyes closed times between the young experimental and control group were same as the elderly groups. To the elderly experiment group, the peak impulse on the first metatarsal head and lateral parts of heel during Tai Chi features movements were significantly greater than that of other parts of foot; the peak pressure on the first toe and first metatarsal head during YEMAFENZONG was significantly greater than that of other parts of foot; during other three features movements, the first metatarsal head and lateral parts of heel were significantly greater than that of other parts of foot. To the young experiment group, the distribution of peak impulse was same as the elderly group; and the peak pressure on the first toe and first metatarsal head were significantly greater than that of other parts of foot. During normal walking, the peak impulse and pressure on the second-third metatarsal head and lateral parts of heel were significantly greater than that of other parts of foot for both elderly and young experiment groups. The sagittal displacement of the plantar center of pressure of the elderly group was significantly smaller than that of the young experiment group,Conclusion:(1) There is good improvement on the static and dynamic balance abilities either for elderly and young people after one year practice of Tai Chi, especially for elderly practitioners.(2) The4Tai Chi features movements included moving forward, backward, lateral, and set in motion at the same time. Compared with normal walking, the significantly increased peak impulse and pressure on the first metatarsal head revealed the mechanism of balance ability improving after one year practice of Tai Chi may be the multiple direction movements could strengthen the relevant muscles, joints and the proprioception input of peak pressure position of practitioners.(3) Compared with normal walking, there were different sagittal or lateral displacement for plantar center of pressure. It is indicated that there is good improvement on the static and dynamic balance abilities to human movement system after one year practice of Tai Chi. The sagittal backward balance ability of elderly group was weaker than that of young group. This may be resulted from the range of ankle of elderly people less than that of the young people, poor control ability of lower limb’s muscles strength for backward movement of elderly people and indicated that the backward movement function recession of elderly people should be paid attention.(4) There is no gender differences in balance ability in this study, while there is a certain relationship between the level of improvement on balance ability and the age and practice years of practitioners.
Keywords/Search Tags:Tai Chi features movement, plantar pressure, balance ability
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