Effects of 16-Form Wheelchair Tai Chi on the Autonomic Nervous System among Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

Characteristics of corticomuscular coupling during wheelchair Tai Chi in patients with spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND

Wheelchair Tai Chi (WCTC) has been proved to have benefits for the brain and motor system of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. However, the characteristics of corticomuscular coupling during WCTC are scarcely known. We aimed to investigate changes following SCI on corticomuscular coupling, and further compare the coupling characteristics of WCTC with aerobic exercise in SCI patients.

METHODS

A total of 15 SCI patients and 25 healthy controls were recruited. The patients had to perform aerobic exercise and WCTC, while healthy controls needed to complete a set of WCTC. The participants accomplished the test following the tutorial video in a sitting position. The upper limb muscle activation was measured from upper trapezius, medial deltoid, biceps brachii and triceps brachii with surface electromyography. Cortical activity in the prefrontal cortex, premotor cortex, supplementary motor area and primary motor cortex was simultaneously collected by functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The functional connectivity, phase synchronization index and coherence values were then calculated and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared to healthy controls, changes in functional connectivity and higher muscle activation were observed in the SCI group. There was no significant difference in phase synchronization between groups. Among patients, significantly higher coherence values between the left biceps brachii as well as the right triceps brachii and contralateral regions of interest were found during WCTC than during aerobic exercise.

CONCLUSION

The patients may compensate for the lack of corticomuscular coupling by enhancing muscle activation. This study demonstrated the potential and advantages of WCTC in eliciting corticomuscular coupling, which may optimize rehabilitation following SCI.

Evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine fitness' effect on improving the health of adults' intestinal flora: An optical tool based on ultrasensitive bioluminescent imaging and applications

The design of the probes is based on bioluminescence imaging, which has been widely adopted in studies of many important biological processes. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) fitness could improve the state of health of adults' intestinal flora. The research aims at analyzing the impact of TCM fitness on the intestinal probiotics (Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus) and opportunistic pathogen (Enterococcus, Enterobacteriaceae) by the noninvasive imaging. In accordance with the searching results, the researchers have found that TCM fitness has a significant impact on improving Bifidobacterium (SDM = 1.55; P = 0.02) and Lactobacillus (SDM = 1.26; P <0.01), while the impact could not be seen on Enterococcus (SDM = 0.29;P = 0.68) and Enterobacteriaceae (SDM = 0.05;P = 0.94). And there is no significant difference between the two interventions of Tai Chi and Fitness Qigong. The results of the present review show that TCM fitness could significantly better the probiotics of intestinal flora while the influence on opportunistic pathogen needs to be further investigated with the precise and reasonable proof of scientific studies.The findings suggest that TCM fitness can be used as an effective intervention, and there is no significant difference between the two interventions on the improvement of the intestinal flora. The using of optical tool based on ultrasensitive bioluminescent imaging may lead to better precision medicine treatments in the future.

Wheelchair Tai Chi Ball Exercise for Improving Neuromuscular Functions of Older Adults With Disability

The purposes of this perspective article were to summarize Wheelchair or Seated Tai Chi studies related to neuromuscular functions of older adults with disability; to describe the development of Wheelchair Tai Chi Ball (WTCB) exercise — a concept to combine mind-body exercise with strength training; and to propose a new Telehealth WTCB exercise for improving neuromuscular functions of old adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) and disability. With reference to neuromuscular functions, WTC intervention may have positive effects on simple reaction time, range of motion at the shoulder and trunk, static and dynamic sitting balance, handgrip strength, vagal activity, and sympathetic activity among older adults with disability. The developed WTCB intervention is a feasible and safe exercise which combines the mind-body exercise and strength conditioning into one exercise which possesses aerobic, stretching and strength trainings and may facilitate neuromuscular functions of older adults with disability. The proposed Telehealth WTCB 12 forms (TWTCB12) exercise with a “Moving Shadow” method in the telehealth may enable the learner to superimpose learner’s image on an expert’s demonstrating model to enhance the learning and practice effects. Since wheelchair users will learn and practice TWTCB12 movements in a seated position or sitting on a wheelchair the “Moving shadow” method on Zoom would provide an ideal telehealth learning and practice environment for the wheelchair users to learn and practice TWTCB12 exercise from home more feasible and user friendly.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Tai Chi Training in Cardiorespiratory Fitness of Elderly People

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of Tai Chi on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in elderly people using meta-analysis.

Methods

This study used seven electronic databases and data retrieved from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the role of Tai Chi on CRF in the elderly. All these 24 RCTs were screened and selected from 7 literature databases. The Stata 11.2 software (StataCorp, USA) was used for the meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and bias test, while the Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used for the assessment of the risk of bias (RoB). 4 researchers independently participated in sample selection, data extraction, and RoB assessment.

Results

Following the inclusion criteria, 24 eligible studies were included in our analysis. The meta-analysis indicated that Tai Chi practice significantly increased the maximum rate of oxygen consumption (VO_{2 max}) (weighted mean difference (WMD)  = 3.76, 95% CI: 1.25 to 6.26, P < 0.1), leading to an overall reduction in the heart rate (HR) (WMD  = −1.84, 95% CI: −2.04 to −1.63, P  ≤ 0.001) and an increase in the O_{2 pulse} (WMD = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.60 to 1.28, P ≤ 0.001) in individuals who practiced Tai Chi regularly compared with those who did not. The subgroup analysis suggested that overall in those who practiced Tai Chi, males (WMD = 1.48, 95% CI: 0.85 to 2.12, P ≤ 0.001) had higher O_{2 pulse} than females (WMD = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.33 to 1.12, P ≤ 0.001). The subgroup analysis also showed an increase in the vital capacity (VC) (WMD = 316.05, 95% CI: 239.74 to 392.35, P ≤ 0.001) in individuals practicing Tai Chi. When the samples were further stratified by Tai Chi practicing time, the subgroup analysis suggested that individuals practicing Tai Chi over a period of 24 weeks showed no significant difference in VC (WMD = 82.95, 95% CI: -98.34 to 264.23, P=0.370), while those practicing Tai Chi over a period of 48 weeks showed a significant increase (WMD = 416.62, 95% CI: 280.68 to 552.56, P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, the subgroup analysis demonstrated that the increase in VC is significantly correlated with the Tai Chi practicing time (WMD = 344.97, 95% CI: 227.88 to 442.06, P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion

Regular Tai Chi practice could improve the CRF in the elderly, as indicated by significant improvement in indicators including VO_2max, O_2pulse, VC, and HR. However, gender and practice time might influence the overall beneficial outcomes.