Tai Chi for spatiotemporal gait features and dynamic balancing capacity in elderly female patients with non-specific low back pain: A six-week randomized controlled trial

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Yan, Zhi-Wei^a | Yang, Zhen^b | Yang, Jinghui^c | Chen, Ya-Feng^d | Zhang, Xue-Bin^a | Song, Cheng-Lin^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Sports Rehabilitation, College of Human Kinesiology, Shenyang Sport University, Liaoning, China | [b] Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK | [c] Department of Physical Therapy, New York University, New York, NY, USA | [d] Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Chenglin Song, Department of Sports Rehabilitation, College of Human Kinesiology, Shenyang Sport University, 36 Jinqiansong East Road, Sujiatun District, Shenyang, Liaoning, China. E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Non-specific low back pain (NS-LBP) is a serious public health problem. Tai Chi is promising in reducing the risk of falls and alleviating symptoms in this population. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Tai Chi on gait and dynamic balance in elderly women with NS-LBP. METHODS: 20 women (age > 65 yr.) with NS-LBP were randomly assigned to a Tai Chi group (n= 10) or a control group (n= 10). The Tai Chi group practiced Tai Chi exercise 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Each session lasted 60 minutes. Pain, spatiotemporal gait features and dynamic balancing capacity were assessed at 0 and 6 weeks. RESULTS: Compared to the control group at 6 weeks, the Tai Chi group had a significant decrease in VAS (p= 0.027) and stride width (p= 0.019), significant improvement in gait velocity, stride length (p< 0.001). Regarding dynamic balance capacity, the Tai Chi group had significant improvements in anterior (Left: p= 0.001; Right: p= 0.038), postero-lateral (Left: p< 0.001; Right: p= 0.038), and postero-medial (Left: p= 0.015; Right: p= 0.018). CONCLUSION: 6-week Tai Chi can relieve pain and improve gait and dynamic balance in elderly women with NS-LBP, which suggests Tai Chi could be a promising rehabilitation intervention to reduce the risk of falls in this population.

Keywords: Low back pain, Tai Ji, gait, postural balance, accidental falls

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-210247

Journal: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 1311-1319, 2022