Biomechanics of Tai Chi: A review

Tai Chi Chuan is a favourite form of exercise throughout the world and has drawn increasing research interest from international scientists. Biomechanical research into Tai Chi has grown substantially and has provided evidence of the beneficial effects of Tai Chi exercise on health, fitness, and prevention of falls. This paper reviews studies that have explored the biomechanical aspects of Tai Chi, such as balance, kinematics, kinetics, strength, and neuromuscular activities.

[1]  Youlian Hong,et al.  Balance control, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness among older Tai Chi practitioners , 2000, British journal of sports medicine.

[2]  D M Bailey,et al.  T'ai chi and postural control in the well elderly. , 1992, The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

[3]  B. Beynnon,et al.  Electromyographic Latency Changes in the Ankle Musculature During Inversion Moments , 1996, The American journal of sports medicine.

[4]  H Tropp,et al.  Postural corrections after standardised perturbations of single limb stance: effect of training and orthotic devices in patients with ankle instability. , 1996, British journal of sports medicine.

[5]  L. Konradsen,et al.  Ankle instability caused by prolonged peroneal reaction time. , 1990, Acta orthopaedica Scandinavica.

[6]  C. Y. Chen,et al.  ANALYSIS OF THE PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION PATTERN AND THE CONTROLLING BALANCE DURING KICK MOVEMENT OF TAI-CHI CHUAN , 1999 .

[7]  O. Rutherford,et al.  The role of learning and coordination in strength training , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[8]  Lester M. Wolfson,et al.  Balance and Strength Training in Older Adults: Intervention Gains and Tai Chi Maintenance , 1996, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[9]  Y Mano,et al.  The assessment of posture control in the elderly using the displacement of the center of pressure after forward platform translation. , 2001, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.

[10]  D Rosenbaum,et al.  A multi-station proprioceptive exercise program in patients with ankle instability. , 2001, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[11]  S. G. Lee,et al.  Moderate peripheral neuropathy impairs weight transfer and unipedal balance in the elderly. , 1996, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[12]  K. Rosengren,et al.  Taiji training improves knee extensor strength and force control in older adults. , 2003, The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences.

[13]  J S Lai,et al.  Two‐Year Trends in Cardiorespiratory Function Among Older Tai Chi Chuan Practitioners and Sedentary Subjects , 1995, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[14]  Youlian Hong,et al.  Tai chi: physiological characteristics and beneficial effects on health , 2001, British journal of sports medicine.

[15]  C. Hui-Chan,et al.  Tai Chi improves standing balance control under reduced or conflicting sensory conditions. , 2004, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[16]  Youlian Hong,et al.  Tai Chi Movement and Proprioceptive Training: A Kinematics and EMG Analysis , 2003 .

[17]  D B Lumsden,et al.  T'ai chi for osteoarthritis: an introduction for primary care physicians. , 1998, Geriatrics.

[18]  C. Hui-Chan,et al.  Effects of tai chi on joint proprioception and stability limits in elderly subjects. , 2003, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[19]  C. A. Hartman,et al.  Effects of T'ai Chi Training on Function and Quality of Life Indicators in Older Adults with Osteoarthritis , 2000, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[20]  A Kirsteins,et al.  Tai-Chi Chuan. , 1998, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[21]  A. Kirsteins,et al.  EVALUATING THE SAFETY AND POTENTIAL USE OF A WEIGHT-BEARING EXERCISE, TAI-CHI CHUAN, FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS , 1991, American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation.

[22]  D. Mao,et al.  The duration and plantar pressure distribution during one-leg stance in Tai Chi exercise. , 2006, Clinical biomechanics.

[23]  J. Bellew The effect of strength training on control of force in older men and women , 2002, Aging clinical and experimental research.

[24]  Carlo J. De Luca,et al.  The role of plantar cutaneous sensation in unperturbed stance , 2004, Experimental Brain Research.

[25]  T Szturm,et al.  Effects of varying acceleration of platform translation and toes-up rotations on the pattern and magnitude of balance reactions in humans. , 1998, Journal of vestibular research : equilibrium & orientation.

[26]  Y. Hong,et al.  Effects of long term Tai Chi practice and jogging exercise on muscle strength and endurance in older people , 2005, British Journal of Sports Medicine.

[27]  S P Chan,et al.  Kinematic and electromyographic analysis of the push movement in tai chi , 2003, British journal of sports medicine.

[28]  P. Devita,et al.  Errors in alignment of center of pressure and foot coordinates affect predicted lower extremity torques. , 1995, Journal of biomechanics.

[29]  Bert H. Jacobson,et al.  The Effect of T'AI Chi Chuan Training on Balance, Kinesthetic Sense, and Strength , 1997, Perceptual and motor skills.

[30]  D. Mao,et al.  The Characteristics of Foot Movements in Tai Chi Chuan , 2006, Research in sports medicine.

[31]  Ge Wu,et al.  Ground contact characteristics of Tai Chi gait. , 2005, Gait & posture.

[32]  B. E. Maki,et al.  The control of foot placement during compensatory stepping reactions: does speed of response take precedence over stability? , 1999, IEEE transactions on rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

[33]  I. Melzer,et al.  Effects of Regular Walking on Postural Stability in the Elderly , 2003, Gerontology.

[34]  Wei Liu,et al.  Spatial, temporal and muscle action patterns of Tai Chi gait. , 2004, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.

[35]  J Shih,et al.  Basic Beijing Twenty-Four Forms of T'ai Chi Exercise and Average Velocity of Sway , 1997, Perceptual and motor skills.

[36]  Youlian Hong,et al.  Effect of regular Tai Chi and jogging exercise on neuromuscular reaction in older people. , 2005, Age and ageing.

[37]  S. Wolf,et al.  Reducing Frailty and Falls in Older Persons: An Investigation of Tai Chi and Computerized Balance Training , 1996, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[38]  S. Lord,et al.  Physiological Factors Associated with Falls in an Elderly Population , 1991, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[39]  C. Hui-Chan,et al.  Comparison of muscle torque, balance, and confidence in older tai chi and healthy adults. , 2005, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[40]  Youlian Hong,et al.  Plantar pressure distribution during Tai Chi exercise. , 2006, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[41]  J S Lai,et al.  Cardiorespiratory function, flexibility, and body composition among geriatric Tai Chi Chuan practitioners. , 1996, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[42]  K. Schaller,et al.  Tai Chi Chih: an exercise option for older adults. , 1996, Journal of gerontological nursing.

[43]  E. Carmeli,et al.  Effects of a treadmill walking program on muscle strength and balance in elderly people with Down syndrome. , 2002, The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences.

[44]  Youlian Hong,et al.  Characteristics of foot movement in Tai Chi exercise. , 2006, Physical therapy.

[45]  Youlian Hong,et al.  Effect of tai chi exercise on proprioception of ankle and knee joints in old people , 2004, British Journal of Sports Medicine.