Benefits of Tai Chi on Neuromuscular Functions in Older Adults

December 27, 2020 - Tai Chi practice has been recommended for reducing falls in older adults, but a gap exists in our understanding of the neuromuscular mechanisms underlying Tai Chi practice benefits. A study by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign aims to quantify and validate neuromuscular mechanisms underlying Tai Chi practice benefits in older adults.

This review and analysis followed the PRISMA framework. For healthy older adults, Tai Chi practice was found to decrease muscle onset latency. Higher leg muscle activations were found during Tai Chi gait in comparison to normal gait. A significant interaction between Tai Chi practice time and age of the cohort was observed in muscle onset latency. For adults with pre-existing health conditions, Tai Chi practice has similar neuromuscular benefits as conventional rehabilitation methods.

Neuromuscular function improvements associated with Tai Chi practice provide a mechanism for reducing falls in older adults with and without pre-existing health conditions. The finding is reported by Complementary therapies in clinical practice in its December 2020 issue.