Effect of Tai Chi Chuan on degeneration of lumbar vertebrae and lumbar discs in middle-aged and aged people: a cross-sectional study based on magnetic resonance images.
Author: Deng C1, Xia W2
Affiliation:
11 Department of Physical Education, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
22 Department of Medical Imaging, Hubei Maternal and Children's Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Conference/Journal: J Int Med Res.
Date published: 2017 Jan 1
Other:
Volume ID: 300060517734115 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1177/0300060517734115. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 176
Objective Exercise has a positive effect on physical fitness. Tai Chi Chuan is a traditional Chinese aerobic exercise. We assessed the effect of Tai Chi on the degeneration of lumbar vertebrae and lumbar discs with magnetic resonance images. Methods This retrospective cohort study involved 2 groups of participants: 27 Tai Chi practitioners with more than 4 years of experience with regular Tai Chi exercise and 24 sex- and age-matched participants without Tai Chi experience. The lumbar magnetic resonance images of all participants were collected. The numbers of degenerated lumbar vertebrae and lumbar discs were evaluated by the same radiologist, who was blind to the grouping. Results The Tai Chi practitioners had significantly fewer degenerated lumbar vertebrae (1.9) and lumbar discs (2.3) than the control group (2.6 and 2.9, respectively). The most severely affected lumbar vertebrae and discs were L5 and L4/L5, respectively. Conclusion Regular performance of the simplified Tai Chi 24 form could possibly retard the degeneration of lumbar vertebrae and lumbar discs in middle-aged and aged people.
KEYWORDS: Tai Chi; aged people; lumbar disc; lumbar vertebrae; magnetic resonance imaging; middle-aged people
PMID: 28984177 DOI: 10.1177/0300060517734115
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