Trial reportPloS one2021
Tai Chi training's effect on lower extremity muscle co-contraction during single- and dual-task gait: Cross-sectional and randomized trial studies.
Trial report in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT01340365 (Tai Chi, Physiologic Complexity, and Healthy Aging), which is not on this map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Tai Chi, Physiologic Complexity, and Healthy Aging
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 18 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effects of digitalized traditional Chinese exercises on the physical and mental health and quality of life of older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in public health · 2025Pooled it
- The effects of Tai Chi on clinical outcomes and gait biomechanics in knee osteoarthritis patients: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- Long-term Tai Chi practice in older adults is associated with "younger" functional abilities.Aging cell · 2024Trial
- Leg-specific modulation of muscle synergies during Tai Chi heel kick in elite athletes.Frontiers in physiology · 2025Article
- The impact of anterior knee displacement on knee joint load during the forward bow step in Tai Chi.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2024Article
- Functional fitness and fall risk in older adults practitioners or non-practitioners of Tai Chi.European journal of translational myology · 2023Article
- Why osteoarthritis of the knee is called "a wound that does not heal" and why Tai Chi is an effective treatment.Frontiers in medicine · 2023Review
- Meta-Analysis of Elderly Lower Body Strength: Different Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on the Knee Joint-Related Muscle Groups.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundTai Chi (TC) mind-body exercise has been shown to reduce falls and improve balance and gait, however, few studies have evaluated the role of lower extremity muscle activation patterns in the observed benefits of TC on mobility. PURPOSE: To perform an exploratory analysis of the association between TC training and levels of lower extremity muscle co-contraction in healthy adults during walking under single-task (ST) and cognitive dual-task (DT) conditions.
methodsSurface electromyography of the anterior tibialis and lateral gastrocnemius muscles was recorded during 90 sec trials of overground ST (walking normally) and DT (walking with verbalized serial subtractions) walking. A mean co-contraction index (CCI), across all strides, was calculated based on the percentage of total muscle activity when antagonist muscles were simultaneously activated. A hybrid study design investigated long-term effects of TC via a cross-sectional comparison of 27 TC experts and 60 age-matched TC-naïve older adults. A longitudinal comparison assessed the shorter-term effects of TC; TC-naïve participants were randomly allocated to either 6 months of TC training or to usual care.
resultsAcross all participants at baseline, greater CCI was correlated with slower gait speed under DT (β(95% CI) = -26.1(-48.6, -3.7)) but not ST (β(95% CI) = -15.4(-38.2, 7.4)) walking. Linear models adjusting for age, gender, BMI and other factors that differed at baseline indicated that TC experts exhibited lower CCI compared to TC naives under DT, but not ST conditions (ST: mean difference (95% CI) = -7.1(-15.2, 0.97); DT: mean difference (95% CI) = -10.1(-18.1, -2.4)). No differences were observed in CCI for TC-naive adults randomly assigned to 6 months of TC vs. usual care.
conclusionLower extremity muscle co-contraction may play a role in the observed benefit of longer-term TC training on gait and postural control. Longer-duration and adequately powered randomized trials are needed to evaluate the effect of TC on neuromuscular coordination and its impact on postural control.
trial registrationThe randomized trial component of this study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01340365).
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.