Background: As an alternative and complementary practice, Tai Chi is becoming increasingly popular in the
 null United States, especially among the elderly. Although several interventional and qualitative biomechanical studies
 null have been performed, a quantitative approach, such as multi-joints kinetics synergy of ankle, knee and hip, has yet
 null to be performed. To better understand the biomechanics of Tai Chi, the characteristics of the total support moment
 null synergy were studied during Tai Chi gait and compared to normal gait.
Methods: Ten healthy, experienced (two years) Tai Chi Chuan practitioners performed normal walking and Tai
 null Chi gait while data was collected using high-speed infrared motion analysis cameras. The joint distributions of the
 null ankle, knee, and hip were calculated by ratio between individual joint moment impulse and total support moment
 null impulse. Using a paired t-test, the joint moment distributions of the lower limb were compared between Tai Chi gait
 null and normal walking.
Results: The total support moment of Tai Chi walking was predominated by the contribution of the knee (ankle:
 null 32.78 ± 1.25%; knee: 58.68 ± 1.84%; hip: 8.54 ± 1.91%) whereas the ankle was the primary contributor to support in
 null normal walking (ankle: 67.86 ± 2.76%; knee: 26.18 ± 2.69%; hip: 5.96 ± 1.83%). The contributions of all three joints
studied differed significantly (p<0.05) between Tai Chi gait and normal gait.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates different kinetics synergy patterns between Tai Chi gait and normal gait.
 null Importantly, Tai Chi gait places a high mechanical demand on the knee joint. Our results provide biomechanical
 null basis of Tai Chi’s benefits on increasing knee joint range of motion and muscle strength, also suggest that
 null prescribing Tai Chi as a potential therapy for people with joint disease, it needs a careful consideration of evaluating
 null mechanical response of people with joint disease during Tai Chi exercise due to higher mechanical demand on the
 null knee joint.

Physical therapy

Computer science

Physical medicine and rehabilitation

Moment 

Medicine

Joint 

Ankle

Gait

Alternative & Integrative Medicine

The Joint Moment Distribution of the Lower Extremity During Tai Chi Gait