TY  -  JOUR
AU  -  Cheng, Denggui
AU  -  Lei, Lan
T1  -  Effect of Taichi exercise on balance, lower limb muscle strength, and proprioception in older with mild Parkinson’s disease
PY  -  2025
Y1  -  2025-04-01
DO  -  10.1728/4594.46015
JO  -  Medicina dello Sport
JA  -  Med Sport
VL  -  78
IS  -  2
SP  -  98
EP  -  104
PB  -  Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore
SN  -  1827-1863
Y2  -  2026/04/05
UR  -  http://dx.doi.org/10.1728/4594.46015
N2  -  Summary. Background. The impact of Taichi as a supplementary exercise for enhancing balance, lower limb strength, and proprioception in older individuals with mild Parkinson’s disease beyond standard rehabilitation needs further validation. Objective. This study examines the additional effects of Taichi on balance, lower limb strength, and proprioception in older individuals with mild PD, in conjunction with conventional rehabilitation. Methods. Forty-three participants with mild PD were randomly assigned to a Taichi group (TG, n = 22) or a Control group (CG, n = 21). Both groups received standard rehabilitation, while the TG also completed a 12-week Taichi program. Assessments of balance (Berg Balance Scale, BBS), fall efficacy (Modified Falls Efficacy Scale, MFES), lower limb strength, and proprioception were conducted at baseline and post-intervention. Results. Compared to baseline, the CG showed an increase of 7.5% in BBS scores (p = 0.026, η² = 0.118) and 24.4% in MFES scores (p = 0.002, η² = 0.208) by the 12th week. The TG exhibited an increase of 17.2% in BBS scores (p <0.001, η² = 0.460) and 59.3% in MFES scores (p <0.001, η² = 0.656) by the 12th week, along with a 16.1% increase in knee extension peak torque (60°/s) (p = 0.007, η² = 0.159). The ankle plantar flexion peak torque (60°/s) increased by 35.0% (p = 0.001, η² = 0.226). The knee flexion proprioceptive threshold decreased by 13.2% (p = 0.136, η² = 0.052), and the extension proprioceptive threshold decreased by 7.7% (p = 0.384, η² = 0.018). At the 12th week, the TG’s BBS and MFES scores were higher than those of the CG (p = 0.001, η² = 0.235; p <0.001, η² = 0.278), and the knee extension peak torque (60°/s) was greater than that of the CG (p = 0.015, η² = 0.136). Conclusion. Supplementing conventional rehabilitation with Taichi exercise can further enhance balance and fall efficacy in older individuals with mild PD, and increase the peak torque of knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor muscles. Although there is some improvement in knee flexion and extension proprioception, it is not statistically significant.
ER  -