Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Postural Stability and Lower-Limb Biomechanical Characteristics in Patients With Functional Ankle Instability: A Randomized Controlled Trial

IF 2 Q2 REHABILITATION

Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation Pub Date : 2026-06-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-04 DOI:10.1016/j.arrct.2026.100595

Chen Zhang MMed , Dunbing Huang MMed , Zhonghua Lin MMed , Jiaqi Wang MMed , Hongfei Ren MMed , Lihong Li MD , Xiaohua Ke MD , Zhenhua Wu MMed , Cai Jiang MD

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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the effects of a 12-week Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) program on ankle instability/function, pain, and gait/balance performance in patients with functional ankle instability (FAI).

Design

Prospective, single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Clinical gait analysis laboratory with community-based recruitment.

Participants

Fifty patients with FAI were randomly divided 1:1 to a TCC group (n=25; age 65.44±8.75y; 18 women/7 men) or a control group (n=25; age 67.08±4.76y; 22 women/3 men). By eligibility criteria, all participants had experienced at least 1 severe ankle sprain within the prior year and had recurrent episodes of giving way/instability in the prior year.

Interventions

The TCC group completed supervised simplified 24-form TCC training 3 sessions/wk for 12 weeks; controls received structured health education once every 4 weeks for 12 weeks.

Main Outcome Measures

The primary outcome was the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT). Secondary outcomes included the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle–Hindfoot Score, pain intensity (visual analog scale [VAS]), 3-dimensional gait spatiotemporal and sagittal kinematic parameters, and postural control (Huber360 static balance metrics and the Y-Balance Test [YBT]).

Results

After 12 weeks, CAIT increased by 10.32 points in the TCC group (14.48±5.53 to 24.80±4.21) compared with 2.84 points in the control group (15.16±5.98 to 18.00±5.05), with a significant between-group difference (P<.01), exceeding the CAIT minimal clinically important difference (MCID) (≥3 points); American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Ankle–Hindfoot Score and VAS also improved more with TCC (all P<.05), with changes within/above published AOFAS MCID estimates (7.9-30.2 points) and exceeding the commonly used VAS MCID (∼1.4 cm). The TCC group also demonstrated improvements in step width, selected sagittal-plane hip/ankle kinematics, and Y-Balance Test performance compared with controls (P<.05).

Conclusions

A 12-week TCC program may provide clinically meaningful improvements in ankle stability and function, reduce pain, and enhance gait and balance performance in patients with FAI.

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太极拳对功能性踝关节不稳定患者姿势稳定性和下肢生物力学特征的影响：一项随机对照试验

目的评价12周太极拳（TCC）训练对功能性踝关节不稳定（FAI）患者踝关节不稳定/功能、疼痛和步态/平衡表现的影响。前瞻性、单盲随机对照试验。基于社区招募的临床步态分析实验室。50例FAI患者按1:1随机分为TCC组（n=25，年龄65.44±8.75，女18 /男7）和对照组（n=25，年龄67.08±4.76，女22 /男3）。根据入选标准，所有参与者在前一年至少经历过一次严重踝关节扭伤，并且在前一年有反复发作的让位/不稳定。干预措施：TCC组完成有监督的简化24表TCC培训，每周3次，持续12周；对照组每4周接受一次结构化健康教育，共12周。主要观察指标：主要观察指标为Cumberland踝关节不稳定工具（CAIT）。次要结果包括美国矫形足踝学会踝关节-后足评分、疼痛强度（视觉模拟量表[VAS]）、三维步态时空和矢状运动学参数以及姿势控制（Huber360静态平衡指标和y -平衡测试[YBT]）。结果12周后，TCC组CAIT升高10.32分（14.48±5.53 ~ 24.80±4.21），对照组CAIT升高2.84分（15.16±5.98 ~ 18.00±5.05），组间差异显著（P< 0.01），超过CAIT最小临床重要差异（MCID）（≥3分）；美国矫形足和踝关节学会踝关节-后足评分和VAS在TCC治疗后也得到了更多的改善（均为P<； 0.05），其变化在公布的AOFAS MCID估计值（7.9-30.2分）之内或以上，超过了常用的VAS MCID （~ 1.4 cm）。与对照组相比，TCC组在步宽、选定的矢状面髋关节/踝关节运动学和Y-Balance测试性能方面也有改善（P< 0.05）。结论：为期12周的TCC计划可改善FAI患者的踝关节稳定性和功能，减轻疼痛，增强步态和平衡能力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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