Can Tai Chi training impact fractal stride time dynamics, an index of gait health, in older adults? Cross-sectional and randomized trial studies.

摘要: Purpose To determine if Tai Chi (TC) has an impact on long-range correlations and fractal-like scaling in gait stride time dynamics, previously shown to be associated with aging, neurodegenerative disease, fall risk. Methods Using Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA), this study evaluated the of TC mind-body exercise training dynamics assessed during 10 minute bouts overground walking. A hybrid design investigated long-term effects via a cross-sectional comparison 27 experts (24.5 ± 11.8 yrs experience) 60 age- gender matched TC-naive older adults (50-70 yrs). Shorter-term were by randomly allocating participants either 6 months or waitlist control. The alpha (α) coefficient derived from DFA speed as outcomes. Results Cross-sectional comparisons using confounder adjusted linear models suggest that exhibited significantly greater compared adults. Longitudinal random-slopes shared baseline accounting for multiple confounders shorter-term not statistically significant, but trended same direction longer-term although effect sizes very small. In contrast, was unaffected both longitudinal comparisons. Conclusion These preliminary findings measures health may sufficiently precise capture positive form Chi, thus warranting further investigation. results motivate larger longer-duration trials, healthy health-challenged populations, evaluate potential restore age-related declines dynamics. Trial registration randomized trial component registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01340365).