Effects of 24-week Tai Chi exercise on the knee and ankle proprioception of older women. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chang, Shuwan; Zhou, Jihe; Hong, Youlian; Sun, Wei; Cong, Yan; Qin, Meiqin; Lian, Jianhua; Yao, Jian; Li, Weiping
• Is Part Of: Research in sports medicine. Volume 24:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 84
• Page End: 93
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Tai Chi -- older women -- proprioception -- knee -- ankle; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine du sport -- Périodiques; 617.102705
• DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2015.1126281
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1543-8627

Abstract

Abstract : This study examined the effects of regular Tai Chi (TC) exercise on the kinaesthesia of the knee and ankle joints of older women. A total of 43 women aged 55–68 years participated in this study. In a 24-week study period, the TC group ( n = 22) underwent an organized TC exercise, whereas the control group ( n = 21) maintained a sedentary lifestyle. Customized instruments were used to measure the threshold for the detection of the passive motion of the knee and ankle joints. After 24 weeks, the TC group showed a significantly smaller threshold for the detection of passive motion of knee extension (31.4%, p = 0.009), knee flexion (27.0%, p = 0.044), and ankle dorsal flexion (28.9%, p = 0.014) than the control group. Other comparisons showed no significant differences. The 24-week TC exercise benefited the lower-limb kinaesthesia of the knee joint flexion and extension and ankle dorsal flexion.