Biomechanical characteristics of lower limbs in Tai Chi Novices with different squatting depths: A pilot study
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the biomechanical characteristics of the lower limbs in Tai Chi novices performing the Part the Wild Horse’s Mane (PWHM) movement at varying squatting depths to identify potential risk factors for joint pain and injuries. Eight Tai Chi novices, with an average age of 20.75 years participated in this study. Joint angles, joint moments, ground reaction forces (GRF), center of gravity (COG), and muscle force were measured during PWHM at various squat depths. Data were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA in Open-Source Statistical Parameter Mapping in MATLAB, with corrected post-hoc tests using the Bonferroni correction. Different squat depths resulted in differences in joint angles, joint moments, joint range of motion (ROM), COG, and muscle force (p < 0.05); however, no difference was observed in the joint stiffness or GRF. In comparison with a high squat depth, both low and medium squat depths exhibited greater peak knee and hip flexion angles, while the low squat depth also demonstrated a larger ROM in ankle inversion–extension, knee flexion-extension, hip flexion-extension, and hip adduction-abduction (p < 0.05). Compared with a low squat depth, a high squat depth resulted in smaller peak ankle inversion, ankle internal rotation, knee external rotation, hip extension, hip adduction moment, and smaller muscle force in the semitendinosus, rectus femoris, rectus femoris, medial gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior muscles (p < 0.05). Different squat depths led to differences in lower limb biomechanics among Tai Chi novices. A low squat depth can bring more health benefits to Tai Chi novices; however, the higher demand for muscle strength may increase the load on the joints, causing joint pain or even injury.
References
Jiang Y, Zou J. Analysis of the TCM theory of traditional Chinese health exercise. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2013; 2(4): 204-208. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2013.03.008
Chen PJ, Penn IW, Wei SH, et al. Augmented reality-assisted training with selected Tai-Chi movements improves balance control and increases lower limb muscle strength in older adults: A prospective randomized trial. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness. 2020; 18(3): 142-147. doi: 10.1016/j.jesf.2020.05.003
Hu X, Lai Z, Wang L. Effects of Taichi exercise on knee and ankle proprioception among individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Research in Sports Medicine. 2019; 28(2): 268-278. doi: 10.1080/15438627.2019.1663520
Li F, Harmer P, Fitzgerald K, et al. Tai Chi and Postural Stability in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease. New England Journal of Medicine. 2012; 366(6): 511-519. doi: 10.1056/nejmoa1107911
Wortley M, Zhang S, Paquette M, et al. Effects of resistance and Tai Ji training on mobility and symptoms in knee osteoarthritis patients. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2013; 2(4): 209-214. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2013.01.001
Chang WD, Chen S, Lee CL, et al. The Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Improving Mind-Body Health for Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2016; 2016: 1-10. doi: 10.1155/2016/1813979
Hochberg MC, Altman RD, April KT, et al. American College of Rheumatology 2012 recommendations for the use of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies in osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. Arthritis Care & Research. 2012; 64(4): 465-474. doi: 10.1002/acr.21596
Dong Z, Li L, Pixiang Q, et al. A Survey on Knee Pain of Tai Chi Quan Practitioners in Shanghai Urban Area. Chin J Sports Med. 2011; 30(09): 820-824.
Yaping L, Hong L, Zhen G, et al. Three-dimensional motion analysis of lower limb biomechanical performance in Tai Chi practitioners accompanied by knee joint pain. Chin J Tissue Eng Res. 2023; 27(04): 520-526.
Huihui W, Zhongqiu J, Zihua Z, et al. Biomechanical Characteristics of Lower Limbs in 24—formTaichi Movement. J Chengdu Sport Univ. 2019; 45(06): 111-119.
Duan J, Wang K, Chang T, et al. Tai Chi Is Safe and Effective for the Hip Joint: A Biomechanical Perspective. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. 2020; 28(3): 415-425. doi: 10.1123/japa.2019-0129
Liu H, Gong H, Chen P, et al. Biomechanical effects of typical lower limb movements of Chen-style Tai Chi on knee joint. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing. 2023; 61(11): 3087-3101. doi: 10.1007/s11517-023-02906-y
Wang C, Yang G, Yang H, et al. Research on Knee Joint Load and Influencing Factors of Typical Tai Chi Movements. Zaffagnini S, ed. Applied Bionics and Biomechanics. 2022; 2022: 1-11. doi: 10.1155/2022/6774980
Yang Y, Li J hui, Xu NJ, et al. Meta-Analysis of Elderly Lower Body Strength: Different Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on the Knee Joint-Related Muscle Groups. De Oliveira M, ed. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2021; 2021: 1-15. doi: 10.1155/2021/8628182
Yamin Z. The Cause and Prevention of Knee Joint Injury in Hexagram Boxing Exercises. Sports & Science. 2002(02).
Hesheng S, Jingguang Q. Modeling on the extend and flexor muscle strength of knee in correct and incorrect Taichi motion. Chin J Rehabil Med. 2020; 35(05): 566-574.
Asai Y, Yamamoto T, Sato Y. Risk assessment of micafungin-induced liver injury using spontaneous reporting system data and electronic medical records. Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy. 2022; 28(5): 690-695. doi: 10.1016/j.jiac.2022.01.024
Quan W, Gao L, Xu D, et al. Simulation of Lower Limb Muscle Activation Using Running Shoes with Different Heel-to-Toe Drops Using Opensim. Healthcare. 2023; 11(9): 1243. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11091243
Mei Q, Fernandez J, Xiang L, et al. Dataset of lower extremity joint angles, moments and forces in distance running. Heliyon. 2022; 8(11): e11517. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11517
Xu D, Quan W, Zhou H, et al. Explaining the differences of gait patterns between high and low-mileage runners with machine learning. Scientific Reports. 2022; 12(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-07054-1
Zhou L, Wang J, Wu F, Lin X. Determination and Control of Three Postures of Taijiquan. Chin Sport Sci Technol. 2005(03): 103-104.
Zhou H, Ugbolue UC. Biomechanical Analysis of Lower Limbs Based on Unstable Condition Sports Footwear: A Systematic Review. Physical Activity and Health. 2024; 8(1): 93-104. doi: 10.5334/paah.332
Li H, Peng F, Lyu S, et al. Newly compiled Tai Chi (Bafa Wubu) promotes lower extremity exercise: a preliminary cross sectional study. PeerJ. 2023; 11: e15036. doi: 10.7717/peerj.15036
Delp SL, Anderson FC, Arnold AS, et al. OpenSim: Open-Source Software to Create and Analyze Dynamic Simulations of Movement. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering. 2007; 54(11): 1940-1950. doi: 10.1109/tbme.2007.901024
Saito A, noyori S, Toyofuku T, et al. Center-of-gravity velocity estimation using lower limb muscle forces during walking. Journal of Biomechanical Science and Engineering. 2024; 19(3): 24-00061-24-00061. doi: 10.1299/jbse.24-00061
Schrøder Jakobsen L, Madeleine P, Pavailler S, et al. The effects of unstable surface conditions on lower limb biomechanical parameters during running. Journal of Biomechanics. 2022; 141: 111214. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2022.111214
Żuk M, Pezowicz C. Kinematic Analysis of a Six-Degrees-of-Freedom Model Based on ISB Recommendation: A Repeatability Analysis and Comparison with Conventional Gait Model. Applied Bionics and Biomechanics. 2015; 2015: 1-9. doi: 10.1155/2015/503713
Gao X, Xu D, Baker JS, et al. Exploring biomechanical variations in ankle joint injuries among Latin dancers with different stance patterns: utilizing OpenSim musculoskeletal models. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 2024; 12. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1359337
Hobara H, Baum BS, Kwon HJ, et al. Amputee locomotion: Spring-like leg behavior and stiffness regulation using running-specific prostheses. Journal of Biomechanics. 2013; 46(14): 2483-2489. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2013.07.009
Shao E, Lu Z, Cen X, et al. The Effect of Fatigue on Lower Limb Joint Stiffness at Different Walking Speeds. Diagnostics. 2022; 12(6): 1470. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics12061470
Yu P, Cen X, Mei Q, et al. Differences in intra-foot movement strategies during locomotive tasks among chronic ankle instability, copers and healthy individuals. Journal of Biomechanics. 2024; 162: 111865. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111865
Cen X, Yu P, Song Y, et al. The Effect of Arch Stiffness on the Foot–Ankle Temporal Kinematics during Gait Termination: A Statistical Nonparametric Mapping Study. Bioengineering. 2022; 9(11): 703. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering9110703
Law NY, Li JX. The Temporospatial and Kinematic Characteristics of Typical Tai Chi Movements: Repulse Monkey and Wave-hand in Cloud. Research in Sports Medicine. 2014; 22(2): 111-123. doi: 10.1080/15438627.2014.881819
Jeon JW, Hong J. Comparison of screw-home mechanism in the unloaded living knee subjected to active and passive movements. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. 2021; 34(4): 589-595. doi: 10.3233/bmr-200110
Zhang L, Wang X, Niu Y, et al. Relationship between Patellar Tracking and the “Screw‐home” Mechanism of Tibiofemoral Joint. Orthopaedic Surgery. 2016; 8(4): 490-495. doi: 10.1111/os.12295
Griffin TM, Guilak F. The Role of Mechanical Loading in the Onset and Progression of Osteoarthritis. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. 2005; 33(4): 195-200. doi: 10.1097/00003677-200510000-00008
Jiang X, Sárosi J, Bíró I. Characteristics of Lower Limb Running-Related Injuries in Trail Runners: A Systematic Review. Physical Activity and Health. 2024; 8(1): 137-147. doi: 10.5334/paah.375
Kang Z, Jiang X. The effect of running experience on muscle forces and knee joint reaction forces during running. International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology. 2024; 45(3): 183-197. doi: 10.1504/ijbet.2024.138969
Yu L, Mei Q, Xiang L, et al. Principal Component Analysis of the Running Ground Reaction Forces With Different Speeds. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 2021; 9. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.629809
Zifchock R, Parker R, Wan W, et al. The relationship between foot arch flexibility and medial-lateral ground reaction force distribution. Gait & Posture. 2019; 69: 46-49. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.01.012
Zhu Q, Zhou X, Zhang S, et al. Joint Angles and Joint Moments of the Lower Limbs in Four Typical Tai Chi Movements: Consideration for Management of Knee Osteoarthritis. Research in Sports Medicine. 2021; 29(6): 586-592. doi: 10.1080/15438627.2021.1975118
Matijevich ES, Branscombe LM, Scott LR, et al. Ground reaction force metrics are not strongly correlated with tibial bone load when running across speeds and slopes: Implications for science, sport and wearable tech. Grabowski A, ed. PLOS ONE. 2019; 14(1): e0210000. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210000
Richards RE, Andersen MS, Harlaar J, et al. Relationship between knee joint contact forces and external knee joint moments in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis: effects of gait modifications. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2018; 26(9): 1203-1214. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2018.04.011
Yanlong Z, Si C, Gengchao B, et al. Lower Limb Joint Activity,Muscle Strength Performance and Muscle Activation of Tai Chi Twist Movement. J Med Biomechanics. 2023; 38(06): 1100-1106.
Li Y, Wang K, Wang L, et al. Biomechanical analysis of the meniscus and cartilage of the knee during a typical Tai Chi movement—brush-knee and twist-step. Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering. 2019; 16(2): 898-908. doi: 10.3934/mbe.2019042
Copyright (c) 2024 Wenlong Li, Zhifeng Zhou, Mengchen Ji, Wenjing Quan, Minjun Liang, Julien S. Baker, Yuwei Liu
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright on all articles published in this journal is retained by the author(s), while the author(s) grant the publisher as the original publisher to publish the article.
Articles published in this journal are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International, which means they can be shared, adapted and distributed provided that the original published version is cited.
Submit a Paper
