ge-Related Differences in Tai Chi Gait Kinematics and Leg uscle Electromyography: A Pilot Study

Objective: To compare the biomechanic features of Tai Chi ait by elders with those by young adults, and with those of ormative gait. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Laboratory-based testing. Participants: Young (n 6; 3 women) and old (n 6; 5 omen) Tai Chi practitioners. Intervention: All subjects had practiced Tai Chi for at least months. Main Outcome Measures: Spatial, temporal, and leg musle electromyography during Tai Chi gait and normative gait. Results: The primary age-related differences in Tai Chi gait ere during single stance, with elders having significantly horter single-stance time ( 50%), less lateral displacement –30%), knee flexion (–42%), hip flexion (–39%), activation ime in the tibialis anterior (–13%), soleus (–39%), and tensor ascia lata (TFL) (–21%), activation magnitude in the tibialis nterior (–39%), and coactivation time of the tibialis anterior nd soleus (–47%). Compared with normative gait, elders uring Tai Chi gait had significantly larger knee (139%) and ip (66%) flexions, longer duration (90%–170%) and higher agnitude (200%–400%) of the tibialis anterior, rectus femois, and TFL muscle activities, and longer duration of coactiation of most leg muscle pairs (130%–380%). Conclusions: The elders practice Tai Chi gait in higher osture than younger subjects. The Tai Chi gait poses signifiantly higher challenges to elder’s balance and muscular sysem than does their normative gait.