Tsang WW1, Chan CW1
1Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong, China
Background: Descending stairs involves attention and neuromuscular control. The level of demand further increases with dual-tasking. Studies have shown that a stroke often degrades a survivor's ability to descend stairs. Tai Chi has been shown to improve the dual-tasking performance of healthy older adults, but no such study has been conducted with stroke survivors.
Purpose: To investigate the effect of Tai Chi training on dual-tasking performance that involves stepping down and compare it with that of conventional exercise training among stroke survivors.
Methods: Stroke survivors were randomized into Tai Chi (n=9), conventional exercise (n=5), and control (n=9) groups. Those in the former two groups received 12 weeks of training. Assessments included auditory Stroop test, a stepping down test, and a test involving both simultaneously. The assessments were performed before the training, afterward and 1 month later.
Results: Two-way mixed ANOVA showed a significant interaction of group and time with the composite scores in the auditory Stroop test. Tai Chi group showed significant improvement from the pre-assessment to the follow-up assessment and performance significantly better than that of the conventional exercise group in the follow-up assessment. No significant effect was found in the physical task assessment or in the control group.
Conclusion(s): These results suggest a positive training effect of Tai Chi on cognition among stroke survivors without compromising physical task performance in dual-tasking. The effect was superior to that of the conventional exercise tested. Further studies with more subjects and different levels of cognitive and physical ability are warranted.
Implications: There results suggest that 12 weeks of Tai Chi training (twice a week for an hour) is feasible and safe for stroke survivors and that it can be incorporated into rehabilitation programs to improve dual-tasking performance. Also, the significant results found during the follow-up period imply that continued Tai Chi practice should be encouraged after completion of the 12-week training period. In addition, subjects should be encouraged to learn the Tai Chi patterns rather than just following the instructor's movements.
Keywords: Stroke, Dual-tasking, Stepping down
Funding acknowledgements: Nil
Purpose: To investigate the effect of Tai Chi training on dual-tasking performance that involves stepping down and compare it with that of conventional exercise training among stroke survivors.
Methods: Stroke survivors were randomized into Tai Chi (n=9), conventional exercise (n=5), and control (n=9) groups. Those in the former two groups received 12 weeks of training. Assessments included auditory Stroop test, a stepping down test, and a test involving both simultaneously. The assessments were performed before the training, afterward and 1 month later.
Results: Two-way mixed ANOVA showed a significant interaction of group and time with the composite scores in the auditory Stroop test. Tai Chi group showed significant improvement from the pre-assessment to the follow-up assessment and performance significantly better than that of the conventional exercise group in the follow-up assessment. No significant effect was found in the physical task assessment or in the control group.
Conclusion(s): These results suggest a positive training effect of Tai Chi on cognition among stroke survivors without compromising physical task performance in dual-tasking. The effect was superior to that of the conventional exercise tested. Further studies with more subjects and different levels of cognitive and physical ability are warranted.
Implications: There results suggest that 12 weeks of Tai Chi training (twice a week for an hour) is feasible and safe for stroke survivors and that it can be incorporated into rehabilitation programs to improve dual-tasking performance. Also, the significant results found during the follow-up period imply that continued Tai Chi practice should be encouraged after completion of the 12-week training period. In addition, subjects should be encouraged to learn the Tai Chi patterns rather than just following the instructor's movements.
Keywords: Stroke, Dual-tasking, Stepping down
Funding acknowledgements: Nil
Topic: Neurology: stroke; Neurology: stroke
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Ethics committee: Ethics Committee
Ethics number: HSEARS20131023003
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
