Effect of taichichuan practice on postural balance and muscle electrical activity (pilot study)

Introduction. One of the important conditions for osteopathic work is physical neutrality of the osteopathic physician — such a spatial position of the body that allows the physician to perform his work as effi ciently as possible, minimize fatigue and not to transfer his musculofascial tension to the patient. It has been found that very effective for the formation of stabilized posture is the use of various methods of recovery developed in the tradition of China and known under the common names of qigong and taichichuan. Stabilometric studies of postural balance, as well as electromyographic indices when performing taichichuan practice (in the stationary state of taichi) have not been found in the available literature.
The aim of the study: to compare the characteristics of postural balance and bioelectrical activity of muscles under normal and taichi condition.
Materials and methods. A pilot study of taichichuan instructors was conducted on the basis of the Institute of Osteopathy: a woman 56 years old, practicing for 25 years, and a man 53 years old, practicing for 10 years. The state of taichi is the so-called «pillar standing» in a straight-back, head-suspended position. For the study of postural balance, the «ST-150» stability platform was used. The following integral stabilometric parameters of vertical posture balance (Romberg test with American parallel foot placement) were studied: time-normalized area of statokinesiogram (S, mm2); average velocity of the center of pressure movement (V, mm/s); energy expenditure index (Av, mJ/s). Functional tests were performed: a belt was put on the subject in the shoulder girdle area and pulled forward or sideways with a force of about 5 kg; the subject was asked to make a movement with the straightened arm in the shoulder joint and hold it in a horizontal position. The electromyogram (EMG) of the deltoid muscle was additionally recorded using surface electrodes and the average amplitude of the EMG signal (A cf.) was measured in μV using the «Kolibri» wireless electrophysiological signal monitoring system.
Results. Most of the stabilographic indices in the normal state went beyond the reference values, although insignificantly. In the taichi state, all analyzed indices significantly decreased (in a woman all changes were statistically significant, p=0,028, in a man V and S, p=0,028), approaching or entering the normal limits, which indicates an improvement in postural balance. The externally influenced trials significantly changed the stabilographic indices, which is to be expected. In the taichi condition in both subjects, all indices statistically significantly decreased (p<0,05), and some even came within the reference values for the normal Romberg test without influence. Tests with holding the straightened arm in a horizontal position significantly changed the stabilographic indices, as the general center of gravity of the body was shifted. In the taichi condition, all indices decreased statistically significantly (p<0,05), and the mean velocity of the center of pressure displacement fell within the reference values for the normal Romberg test in both subjects. In the taichi condition, the mean amplitude of the EMG signal from the deltoid muscle is smaller, and there is less variation between the minimum and maximum values than in the normal condition. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p>0,05), most likely due to the small number of measurements.
Conclusion. Based on the results of the pilot study, it can be concluded that the state of taichi and the use of stabilized posture signifi cantly improves the stability of the human body in upright posture, including when the position of the common center of gravity changes as a result of both arm movement and external infl uence, and reduces energy expenditure to maintain the upright posture of the body. This result may be related to the harmonization of muscle tone and fascial framework, which requires further research. Movements that are performed according to taichichuan principles occur with a decrease in the electrical activity of the muscles, which should also be studied in more detail.

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