EFFECTS OF TAI-CHI CHUAN ON THE CONTROL OF BODY’S CENTRE OF MASS MOTION DRUING OBSTACLE-CROSSING IN THE ELDERLY

Tripping over obstacles is a common problem among the elderly, which often leads to physical injuries. Previous studies have shown the positive effects of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) exercises on muscle power, flexibility, endurance, dexterity, physical fitness, and balance (Wolf et al., 1996; Li et al., 2004). These effects are beneficial for the control of the body stability and prevention of falls. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Tai-Chi Chun and obstacle heights on the inclination angles of the center of mass (COM) relative to the center of foot pressure (COP) during obstacle-crossing.