Research article - (2013)12, 19 - 26
The Effects of Tai Chi Chuan Combined with Vibration Training on Balance Control and Lower Extremity Muscle Power
Pao-Hung Chung1,2, Guan-Lun Lin3, Chiang Liu1, Long-Ren Chuang4, Tzyy-Yuang Shiang3,
1Graduate Institute of Sports Equipment Technology, Taipei Physical Education College, Taipei, Taiwan
2Department of Physical Education,
3Graduate Institute of Exercise and Sports Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
4Department of Chinese Martial Arts, Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan

Tzyy-Yuang Shiang
✉ Graduate Institute of Exercise and Sports Science, National Taiwan Normal University, No. 88, Sec. 4, Ting-Zhou Rd., Wen-Shan District, Taipei City 11677, Taiwan
Email: tyshiang@gmail.com
Received: 18-06-2012 -- Accepted: 02-11-2012
Published (online): 01-03-2013
ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine whether performing Tai Chi Chuan on a customized vibration platform could enhance balance control and lower extremity muscle power more efficiently than Tai Chi Chuan alone in an untrained young population. Forty-eight healthy young adults were randomly assigned to the following three groups: a Tai Chi Chuan combined with vibration training group (TCV), a Tai Chi Chuan group (TCC) or a control group. The TCV group underwent 30 minutes of a reformed Tai Chi Chuan program on a customized vibration platform (32 Hz, 1 mm) three times a week for eight weeks, whereas the TCC group was trained without vibration stimuli. A force platform was used to measure the moving area of a static single leg stance and the heights of two consecutive countermovement jumps. The activation of the knee extensor and flexor was also measured synchronously by surface electromyography in all tests. The results showed that the moving area in the TCV group was significantly decreased by 15.3%. The second jump height in the TCV group was significantly increased by 8.14%, and the activation of the knee extensor/flexor was significantly decreased in the first jump. In conclusion, Tai Chi Chuan combined with vibration training can more efficiently improve balance control, and the positive training effect on the lower extremity muscle power induced by vibration stimuli still remains significant because there is no cross-interaction between the two different types of training methods.
Key words: Composite vibration training, postural control, center of pressure, countermovement jump

Key Points
  • Eight weeks of Tai Chi Chuan combined with vibration training can more efficiently improve balance control for an untrained young population.
  • The positive training effect on the lower extremity muscle power induced by vibration stimuli during Tai Chi Chuan movements still remains significant because of SSC mechanism.
  • Combining Tai Chi Chuan with vibration training is more efficient and does not decrease the overall training effects due to a cross-interaction of each other.








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The Effects of Tai Chi Chuan Combined with Vibration Training on Balance Control and Lower Extremity Muscle Power
Pao-Hung Chung, Guan-Lun Lin, Chiang Liu, Long-Ren Chuang, Tzyy-Yuang Shiang
2013(12), 19 - 26.
DOI: https://doi.org/