Temporal characteristics of foot movement in Tai Chi exercise

The concept of proper foot movement is always emphasized in the practice of Tai Chi. Sixteen experienced Tai Chi practitioners participated in this study. Each subject practiced the whole set of 42-form Tai Chi movements and the performance was video-recorded and analyzed. The study found that Tai Chi is performed with the interchange of seven support patterns and six step directions of the foot. Compared with normal walking, there is a bigger percentage of time spent performing double support and less percentage of time spent performing single support movements in Tai Chi. However, the average duration of each support movement is longer and the change from one type of support to another is slower. In Tai Chi, the duration of steps in each direction is short and there are frequent changes from one direction to another. Tai Chi was found to be more effective than walking in simulating the gait challenges that are encountered in daily activities.