The Surface Electromyographic Characteristics of Different Practice Methods of Chen-Style Tai Chi Lanzhayi Movement

Abstract

This study aimed to deeply understand the movement rules of Tai Chi and provide a basis and reference for its scientific training. In this study, we used a MEGWIN6000 16-channel telemetry surface electromyography tester to collect the surface EMG signals and kinematic data of nine subjects using different practice methods of Chen-style Tai Chi Lanzhayi. The findings of this study were as follows: the primary force-emitting muscles in stages 1 and 2 of the Lanzhayi movement are the left and right anterior tibialis. In stage 3 of the Lanzhayi movement, there was a significant difference in root mean square amplitude (RMS) among the slow practice, rapid power practice and practical combat practice. However, no significant difference was observed in total integrated electromyography (iEMG). Based on the expert-case analysis, the order of muscle power generation in stage 3 of the three exercises does not follow the intuitive experience of "foot-leg-waist-hand". The order of muscle power generation in the three exercises of slow practice, rapid power practice, and practical combat practice is also different. In the standing exercise of Lanzhayi, the iEMG of the left leg (empty leg) is greater than that of the right leg (solid leg). Also, the iEMG of the right arm (yin hand) is greater than that of the left arm (yang hand). Different practice methods of the Chen-style Tai Chi Lanzhayi movement showed different surface electromyographic characteristics. RMS reflected that the exercise intensity increased sequentially from slow practice to rapid power practice and practical combat practice, whereas iEMG showed no significant difference in the total amount of muscle work of the measured muscles among the three practice methods. This suggests that, to improve the combat ability of Tai Chi, practitioners should undertake more training that is closer to practical combat. The findings also suggest that the traditional theory that “the power starts from the feet, travels through the legs, is controlled by the waist, and manifests in the hands” can be regarded as a guiding principle of whole-body coordinated force generation, but should not be simply interpreted as a fixed sequence of muscle activation. The left–right differences observed in the standing exercise of Lanzhayi may be understood from the perspective of the Tai Chi philosophy of yin and yang, namely, “there is yang in yin and yin in yang.”