Electromyography in Tai Chi
The Question:
How does a Tai Chi master move and use his muscles?
The Answer:
The hip, knee and ankle joints are bent to maintain an upright posture and a low center of gravity. The anti-gravity muscles (rectus femoris and the medial head of gastrocnemius) are strengthened by eccentric muscle contraction.
The Study:
Kinematic and electromyographic analysis of the push movement in tai chi.
Electromyographic activities of the lumbar erector spinae, rectus femoris, medial hamstrings, and medial head of gastrocnemius were measured as a Tai Chi master performed a sequence of basic Tai Chi movements.
S Chan, T Luk, and Y Hong
British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2003 August. Free full text.
Related Link:
Types of contractions -muscle.ucsd.edu
“Eccentric muscle contractions could strengthen muscles more than concentric muscle contractions but they could also cause more muscle injury and soreness.”
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