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P. Sanzo1, Z. Cordingley2, C. Zerpa2
1Lakehead University, School of Kinesiology and Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Thunder Bay, Canada, 2Lakehead University, School of Kinesiology, Thunder Bay, Canada
Background: Tai Chi has demonstrated its effectiveness for improving the postural stability of older adults. Despite age not being a contributing factor in Tai Chi practitioner demographics, the effects of Tai Chi on the postural stability of healthy young adults has yet to be investigated as a possible adjunct following musculoskeletal injury or in the presence of balance disorders. Also, currently the use of virtual delivery or alternative platforms for various exercise prescriptions and treatments to patients has had to be quickly introduced related to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions imposed with physical distancing and social isolation.
Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the acute postural effects of a single Tai Chi session delivered via video on healthy young adults under EO/EC and firm/foam surface conditions. It was hypothesized that Tai Chi would improve postural stability under all eye and surface conditions.
Methods: This pilot study attempted to explore the pre-/post-test measures of postural stability from 15 healthy young adult participants under eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) and firm/foam surface conditions after learning a battery of Tai Chi exercises and forms delivered by instructional video. Center of pressure-based measures of mean sway velocity (MSV) and 95% elliptical sway area (EA) were used to assess postural stability.
Results: Three-way ANOVAs were conducted to determine if MSV and EA were significantly different across the eye conditions, surface conditions, and time (intervention). Both EA and MSV were found to significantly increase from EO to EC on a foam surface; however, only MSV under EC conditions was found to decrease significantly following the intervention.
Conclusion(s): These findings suggest that a single Tai Chi intervention delivered via a video platform does have immediate effects on the postural stability of healthy young adults; however, the mechanism behind this decrease remains unknown. These observed biomechanical results provide an avenue to add to existing normative data on healthy young adults for future research on unhealthy populations.
Implications: The use of a pre-recorded Tai Chi lesson may be an effective alternative to live class settings that may offer physiotherapists a treatment option for consideration especially with physical distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic in the treatment of balance and proprioception following musculoskeletal injury. Further research is required, however, to directly compare a live class setting environment to other virtual or tele rehab platforms.
Funding, acknowledgements: No funding.
Keywords: Postural control, Balance
Topic: Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Lakehead University
Committee: Lakehead University Research Ethics Board
Ethics number: ROMEO File # 1466317
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
