Elderly Tai Chi practitioners exhibit superior multisensory integration in a dual-task paradigm

TL;DR

Elderly people who practice Tai Chi show better balance and stability when doing two tasks at once, especially under challenging conditions.

Contribution

This study reveals that long-term Tai Chi practice enhances multisensory integration and dual-task performance in older adults.

Findings

TCP showed significantly lower COG sway velocity during dual-task conditions compared to controls.

TCP exhibited a significant interaction between task and balance challenge level.

TCP did not show main effects of task, unlike the control group.

Abstract

This study aims to investigate whether elderly Tai Chi (TC) practitioners demonstrate enhanced multisensory integration when performing dual-tasking.

Twenty-six TC practitioners (TCP) with at least 5 years of TC experience and 28 controls (TC Naïve) without TC experience were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Standing was employed as the postural task and serial subtraction as the cognitive task to explore dual-task standing stability in the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB), which involved increasing the balance challenge via sensory conflict. The Center of Gravity (COG) Sway Velocity was measured to evaluate standing stability in the mCTSIB.

There was no significant difference in standing stability between the TCP and TC Naïve groups in mCTSIB during single tasks. However, the TCP exhibited significantly lower COG Sway Velocity than the TC Naïves under dual-task conditions. In the TC Naïve group, the main effects of single/dual task (Task) and balance challenge level (Level) were significant, but the main effects of Task were not seen in the TCP group. Additionally, the TCP group showed a significant interaction effect between Task and Level.

Elderly Tai Chi practitioners demonstrate enhanced dual-task standing stability when facing balance challenges.

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