Commentary to the Newly Rising Aquatic Exercise: Ai Chi

Abstract

73 As aquatic therapy has become an important rehabilitative option, more exercise programs have emerged. Ai Chi, is one of the therapeutic aquatic exercise concepts with growing potential. In our previous study, both types of aquatic exercise, Ai Chi and conventional exercise, supported the restoration of postural control in people with chronic stroke, whereas Ai Chi seemed to have larger effects [1]. Along with the statistically significant amelioration of weight shifting ability, number of participants who reached clinical fall risk cutoff score was also higher in Ai Chi group than in control group. We have attributed the advantages of Ai Chi to the unique combination of movement characteristics, such as postural challenge, closed-chain movements, and multi-joint involvement.