Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41169888›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in physiology2025

Effects of 16-week tai chi practice on sit-to-stand performance and lower-limb neuromuscular control strategies in community-dwelling older adults: a randomized controlled trial.

Lyu Mozhu, Li Jiayu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in physiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Lyu MozhuSchool of Martial Arts and Dance, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
Li JiayuSchool of Martial Arts, Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The ability to perform sit-to-stand (STS) transitions is a fundamental marker of functional independence in older adults, and age-related declines in STS performance are strongly linked to increased fall risk and compromised quality of life. While mind-body exercises like Tai Chi have shown promise in enhancing physical function in this population, the specific neuromuscular mechanisms through which Tai Chi improves STS performance-particularly how it modulates biomechanical patterns and muscle control during this critical movement-remain poorly understood. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 16-week, Yang-style Tai Chi programme on STS performance and lower limb neuromuscular control strategies underpinning any improvements in older adults. Methods: Sixty community-dwelling older adults (60-75 years) stratified by sex and baseline STS time. The 32 older adults were recruited as the experimental group (Tai Chi practitioners), and 28 as the control group (maintaining habitual lifestyle). The experimental group underwent 16 weeks of Tai Chi practice (5 sessions/week, 40 min/session), while the control group maintained their original daily routines. Before and after the intervention, the following parameters were measured during STS transitions: center of pressure (COP), temporal parameters, and surface electromyography (sEMG) signals of relevant lower limb muscles. Results: Data indicated that with increasing age, older adults exhibited decreased physical activity levels and impaired STS ability. After 16 weeks of Tai Chi practice, the experimental group showed significant improvements in STS ability, with marked reductions in reaction time, standing phase duration, and total time for Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST). During STS tasks, the sample entropy of COP in the experimental group significantly decreased, accompanied by reduced sEMG amplitudes of the biceps femoris, rectus femoris, and tibialis anterior. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that aging is associated with declines in physical activity, reaction capacity, and STS ability in older adults. Tai Chi improves STS performance through greater neuromuscular efficiency and reduced postural sway, providing a mechanistic rationale for its integration into fall-prevention programs for older adults.

Indexed as

agingneuromuscular controlpostural stabilitysit-to-stand transitiontai chi exercise

Identifiers

PMID41169888
PMCPMC12568427

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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.