Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on knee extensor muscular strength and balance in elderly women / Efeitos do Tai Chi Chuan na forÃa dos mÃsculos extensores dos joelhos e no equilÃbrio em mulheres idosas

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2005

RESUMO

Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) has been widely practiced in China for centuries. The purpose of this study is to verify the effects of TCC program on knee extensor muscular strength and balance in elderly women after praticing a TCC program. 77 healthy women, who do not practice any form of oriented physical activity, aged 60 to 82 years, completed this controlled experimental study. TCC group included 38 subjects (age 68,11 Â 5,02 yr) and Control Group included 39 subjects (age 69,03 Â 7,28 yr). TCC group praticed the 24 Forms Yang Style TCC during 12 weeks, 3 times/week. Each session included 15 min of warm-up, 20 min of TCC form pratice and 15 min of cooldown. The exercice intensity was weak (RPE 2 in CR10 Borg scale). Knee extensor muscular strength and balance were evaluate before and at the end of this intervention. TCC group showed 17,83 % increase in knee extensor muscular strength (p = 0,001) and 26,10 % increase in balance (p=0,013). The control group showed no significant changes in these variables. No significant correlation was observed between both variables in G1 (r = 0,09; p = 0,554) and G2 (r = 0,07; p = 0,660). These results indicate that TCC program is effective for improving knee extensor muscular strength and balance in the elderly women, and indicate that knee extensor muscular strength is not necessarily linked to balance in this practice. Additional studies about the effects of TCC are needed to make clear correlations between balance and other variables and give directions for future research.

ASSUNTO(S)

educacao fisica equilÃbrio quedas forÃa muscular tai chi chuan tai chi chuan idoso balance elderly muscle strength falls

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