Chinese Martial Art Training Failed to Improve Balance or Inhibit Falls in Older Adults

Perceptual and Motor Skills
Ada W W MaShirley S M Fong

Abstract

This randomized controlled trial explored the effects of a Ving Tsun (VT) Chinese martial art training program on reactive standing balance performance, postural muscle reflex contraction latency, leg muscle performance, balance confidence and falls in community-dwelling older adults. We randomly assigned 33 healthy older adults to either a VT group (mean age = 67.5 years) or a control group (mean age = 72.1 years). The VT group received two 1-hour VT training sessions per week for three months (24 sessions). Primary outcome measures collected before and after the intervention period were electromyographic muscle activation onset latencies of the hamstring and gastrocnemius and the center of pressure path, length and movement velocity in standing (reactive balance performance). Secondary outcome measures included isometric peak force and time to isometric peak force of the knee extensors and flexors, the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale score, and fall history. Results revealed that the mean gastrocnemius muscle activation onset latency was significantly longer (22.53 ms) in the VT group after the intervention. The peak force of the knee flexors significantly increased (by 1.58 kg) in the control group over time but...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1991·The American Journal of Occupational Therapy : Official Publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association·J L Poole
Dec 29, 1988·The New England Journal of Medicine·M E TinettiS F Ginter
Jan 1, 1993·Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise·B E AinsworthR S Paffenbarger
May 29, 2001·British Journal of Sports Medicine·J X LiK M Chan
Jun 6, 2002·Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·Ching-Yi WangElizabeth J Protas
Nov 22, 2002·Gait & Posture·Reed FerberJi-Hang Lee
Jan 13, 2006·Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·Siu-Ming Fong, Gabriel Y Ng
Mar 27, 2007·Osteoporosis International : a Journal Established As Result of Cooperation Between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA
Apr 3, 2007·Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·Margaret K MakIrene S Wong
Apr 12, 2007·Psychological Science·Alia J Crum, Ellen J Langer
Mar 19, 2011·European Journal of Applied Physiology·Kelly L GaoWilliam W N Tsang
Jan 11, 2014·Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy·Madeleine E Hackney, Steven L Wolf
May 9, 2014·PloS One·Torrence D J Welch, Lena H Ting
Dec 24, 2014·Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Case Reports·K MajumdarM Powell

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Clinical Trials Mentioned

NCT03318289

Software Mentioned

- SX
DataLOG
WinFDM
Biometrics EMG for DataLOG
SPSS
QuickBoard
Power
SX

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmias are abnormalities in heart rhythms, which can be either too fast or too slow. They can result from abnormalities of the initiation of an impulse or impulse conduction or a combination of both. Here is the latest research on arrhythmias.