Tai Chi Chuan Combined With Walking on Physical and Mental Parameters of Older Adults

Maximal dynamic strength,Functional test - 30-s Chair-stand test

Background: Tai Chi Chuan, a Chinese martial art style, is a mind-body modality that has
 shown positive impacts on health markers in various populations, particularly older adults.
 This study aims to investigate the effects of a 12-week program of Tai Chi Chuan exercises
 based on the Yang 16-movement form and walking on older adults' physical and mental markers.
 
 Methods: This study is a randomized, single-blinded, two-arm, parallel, superiority trial.
 Forty older adults between 60 and 75 years old who are not engaged in any systematic strength
 and aerobic training program will be recruited. Candidates with language and cognitive
 problems, a history of cardiovascular diseases (except controlled hypertension),
 osteoarticular limitations and fractures, severe injuries, and prosthetic placement in the
 last six months will be excluded. Participants will be randomly allocated on a 1:1 ratio to a
 12-week intervention with Tai Chi Chuan and walking two times per week, or an active-control
 group with walking two times per week. Physical measures will be muscle strength (i.e., knee
 extensors maximum strength and lower limbs functional performance -primary outcomes-, dynamic
 knee extensors endurance, handgrip strength, back-leg-chest strength), functional capacity,
 static balance, muscle thickness and muscle quality of quadriceps. Mental measures will be
 quality of life, sleep quality, cognitive function, and depressive and anxiety symptoms.
 Outcomes will be measured before and after 12 weeks of intervention. The analysis plan will
 use an intention-to-treat approach and protocol criteria.
 
 Discussion: The conceptual hypothesis is that the intervention training program with Tai Chi
 Chuan and walking will lead to greater improvements in both physical and mental parameters
 due to its multi-component character compared to the walking active-control group.