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Associations of different exercise modalities with balance performance and cortical hemodynamic responses in older
Hongen Liu1, Xuecheng Zhang2, Yanbai Han1
1Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China.
Objective:
To compare balance performance and task-related cortical hemodynamic responses among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who habitually engaged in different exercise modalities, and to provide preliminary evidence for future balance-oriented intervention studies and fall-risk prevention strategies.
Methods:
This cross-sectional observational study included 57 older adults with MCI, classified into Tai Chi, brisk walking, and non-exercise control groups according to habitual exercise patterns, with 19 participants in each group. Static balance was assessed during quiet standing, and dynamic balance was evaluated using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to record oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentrations in predefined regions of interest during quiet standing and TUG tasks.
Results:
Compared with the control group, both the Tai Chi and brisk walking groups showed significantly lower postural sway during quiet standing and higher POMA scores during dynamic balance assessment (p < 0.05). The Tai Chi group also showed significantly shorter TUG completion time than the control group (p < 0.05) and demonstrated more pronounced advantages across static balance outcomes than the brisk walking group (p < 0.05). Cortical HbO results showed that the Tai Chi group had significantly higher HbO concentrations in the left primary somatosensory cortex during quiet standing and in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during walking compared with the control group (p < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed between the brisk walking and control groups.
Conclusion:
Different habitual exercise modalities were associated with better balance control in older adults with MCI, with Tai Chi showing more pronounced favorable associations than brisk walking. Habitual Tai Chi practice may be linked to better postural regulation and task-related cortical hemodynamic responses, supporting its potential relevance for future balance-oriented intervention studies and fall-risk prevention strategies in older adults with MCI.
