STEPPING CHARACTERISTICS BEFORE STAIR WALKING TRANSITONS IN TAICHI ELDERLY

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference between TC exerciser and normal elderly in stepping characteristics before stair walking transition. There were 12 TC practitioner elderly and 14 matched controls participated in this stady. Ten Vicon high-speed cameras (250Hz) were utilised to collect kinematic data. Results showed that TC group presented faster CoM velocity during descending and following walk. At the moment of just before transition, TC group showed faster resultant / horizontal CoM velocity, TOE resultant / vertical velocity. TC group also demonstrated greater stride length while contacting the ground. We concluded TC group had better abilities of body control. Faster horizontal CoM velocity and vertical TOE velocity negotiated before transiton in TC group, would be order to transit the unstable situation more efficient.