Effect of Tai Chi Training on Dual-Tasking Performance That Involves Stepping Down among Stroke Survivors: A Pilot Study

Abstract EN

Descending stairs demands attention and neuromuscular control, especially with dual-tasking.

Studies have demonstrated that stroke often degrades a survivor’s ability to descend stairs.

Tai Chi has been shown to improve dual-tasking performance of healthy older adults, but no such study has been conducted in stroke survivors.

This study investigated the effect of Tai Chi training on dual-tasking performance that involved stepping down and compared it with that of conventional exercise among stroke survivors.

Subjects were randomized into Tai Chi (n=9), conventional exercise (n=8), and control (n=9) groups.

Those in the former two groups received 12-week training.

Assessments included auditory Stroop test, stepping down test, and dual-tasking test involving both simultaneously.

They were evaluated before training (time-1), after training (time-2), and one month after training (time-3).

Tai Chi group showed significant improvement in the auditory Stroop test from time-1 to time-3 and the performance was significantly better than that of the conventional exercise group in time-3.

No significant effect was found in the stepping down task or dual-tasking in the control group.

These results suggest a beneficial effect of Tai Chi training on cognition among stroke survivors without compromising physical task performance in dual-tasking.

The effect was better than the conventional exercise group.

Nevertheless, further research with a larger sample is warranted.