Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of traditional exercise therapy, such as Taiji Quan, on motor function of lower limbs in stroke patients.
Methods From March, 2014 to March, 2016, 105 stroke patients were divided into control group (n = 35), Qigong group (n = 35) and Taiji group (n = 35). All the patients received routine rehabilitation. In addition, the Taiji group exercised with modified 24 type Taiji Quan, while the Qigong group exercised with Baduanjin. They were assessed with Fugel-Meyer Assessment-lower extremities (FMA-LE), and integral electromyography (iEMG) and co-contraction ratio (CR) of tibialis anterior muscle and gastrocnemius were recorded with surface electromyography, before, four weeks and eight weeks after treatment.
Results There were 21 cases in the control group, 23 in the Qigong group and 28 in the Taiji group finishing the exercise. At the end of the 8th week, the score of FMA-LE was more in the Taiji group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The iEMG of tibialis anterior muscle as dorsiflexsion was more in both the Taiji group and the Qigong group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The CR of tibialis anterior muscle was less in the Taiji group than in both the control group and the Qigong group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion Both Taiji Quan and Qigong exercise may promote the activities of muscle of legs in the patients with stroke, while Taiji Quan seems to be better in the coordination between active muscles and antagonistic muscles.

Key words: stroke, Taiji Quan, Baduanjin, lower limbs, surface electromyography