Tai Chi with mental imagery theory improves soleus H-reflex and nerve conduction velocity in patients with type 2 diabetes.


Author: Alsubiheen A1, Petrofsky J2, Daher N2, Lohman E3, Balbas E4, Lee H5

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Department of Physical Therapy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA; Department of Physical Therapy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

<sup>2</sup>School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.

<sup>3</sup>Department of Physical Therapy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.

<sup>4</sup>Physical medicine and Rehabilitation, Pain management, Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach, CA, USA.

<sup>5</sup>Department of Physical Therapy, Gachon University, Incheon, Korea. Electronic address: leehaneul84@gachon.ac.kr.
Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Med.
Date published: 2017 Apr
Other:
 Volume ID: 31   ,  Pages: 59-64   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.01.005. Epub  2017 Feb 13.   ,  Word Count: 245  
    OBJECTIVES: Diabetes is a disease that leads to damage to the peripheral nerves which may eventually cause balance instability. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 8 weeks of Tai Chi (TC) training combined with mental imagery (MI) on soleus H-reflex and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of the sural and superficial peroneal nerves in people with diabetes.



DESIGNS: Quasi-experimental, one group pretest-posttest design.



SETTING: Human Research Laboratory.



INTERVENTIONS: A series of Yang style of Tai Chi classes with mental imagery, one hour, two sessions per week for 8 weeks was done.



MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, Functional Reach Test (FRT), and One Leg Standing Test (OLS) were measured as functional data. Hoffman reflex (H-reflex), and sural and superficial peroneal NCV were measured as main outcomes.



RESULTS: All functional outcomes measures were significantly improved after the intervention (p<0.01). In the H-reflex, there was a significant increase in amplitude (μV) after completing 8 weeks of TC exercise (p=0.02). In the sural nerve, the velocity (p=0.01), amplitude (p=0.01), and latency (p=0.01) were significantly improved between pre and post-test. In the superficial peroneal nerve, significant improvements were observed in (p=0.02) and latency (p=0.01), but not in amplitude (μV) (p>0.05).



CONCLUSIONS: Combining TC intervention with MI theory showed an improvement in the H-reflex and NCV tests, which suggests improved balance and walking stability.



Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.



KEYWORDS: Diabetes mellitus; H-reflex; Nerve conduction; Sensory; Tai Chi exercise



PMID: 28434472  DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.01.005