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. 2023 Jun 30;24(1):241.
doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07146-x.

Effects of a biomechanical-based Tai Chi program on gait and posture in people with Parkinson's disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Affiliations

Effects of a biomechanical-based Tai Chi program on gait and posture in people with Parkinson's disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Nok-Yeung Law et al. Trials. .

Abstract

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with changes in gait and posture, which increases the rate of falls and injuries in this population. Tai Chi (TC) training enhances the movement capacity of patients with PD. However, the understanding of the effect of TC training on gait and postural stability in PD is lacking. This study aims to examine the effect of biomechanical-based TC training on dynamic postural stability and its relationship with walking performance.

Methods/design: A single-blind, randomized control trial of 40 individuals with early-stage PD was conducted (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1 to 3). Patients with PD will be randomly assigned to either the TC or control group. The TC group will participate in a biomechanical-based TC training program that is formed based on the movement analysis of TC and will be practiced thrice a week for 12 weeks. The control group will be required to engage in at least 60 min of regular physical activity (PA) on their own for three times per week for 12 weeks. The primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks after commencing the study protocol. The primary outcome measures will include dynamic postural stability indicated by the center of mass and center of pressure separation distance and clearance distance of the heel and toe measured during fixed-obstacle crossing. The secondary measures are gait speed, cadence, step length during level surface walking (simple task), and fixed-obstacle crossing (challenging task). The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, single leg-stance test with eyes open and closed, and three cognitive scores (Stroop Test, Trail Making Test Part B, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test) were also employed.

Discussion: This protocol could lead to the development of a biomechanics TC training program for the improvement of gait and postural stability among individuals with PD. The program could enhance the understanding of the effect of TC training on gait and postural stability and could help improve or preserve the postural stability, self-confidence, and active participation in social activities of the participants, thus enhancing their overall quality of life.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04644367. Registered on 25 November 2020.

Keywords: Falls; Gait; Parkinson’s disease; Postural stability; Tai Chi.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of TC study with design and illustration of experimental and control groups’ allocation
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Illustration of four dynamic forms from the proposed 7-form TC program
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Schedule of enrolment, intervention, and assessment for proposed TC intervention study involving those with Parkinson’s disease

References

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