RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Tai Chi Chuan or ballroom dancing promotes better performance with respect to postural balance, gait, and postural transfer among elderly people. METHODS: We evaluated 76 elderly individuals who were divided into two groups: the Tai Chi Chuan Group and the Dance Group. The subjects were tested using the NeuroCom Balance Master¯ force platform system with the following protocols: static balance tests (the Modified Clinical Tests of Sensory Interaction on Balance and Unilateral Stance) and dynamic balance tests (the Walk Across Test and Sit-to-stand Transfer Test). RESULTS: In the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented a lower sway velocity on a firm surface with open and closed eyes, as well as on a foam surface with closed eyes. In the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Unilateral Stance, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented a lower sway velocity with open eyes, whereas the Dance Group presented a lower sway velocity with closed eyes. In the Walk Across Test, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented faster walking speeds than those of the Dance Group. In the Sit-to-stand Transfer Test, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented shorter transfer times from the sitting to the standing position, with less sway in the final standing position. CONCLUSION: The elderly individuals who practiced Tai Chi Chuan had better bilateral balance with eyes open on both types of surfaces compared with the Dance Group. The Dance Group had better unilateral postural balance with eyes closed. The Tai Chi Chuan Group had faster walking speeds, shorter transfer times, and better postural balance in the final standing position during the Sit-to-stand Test. .
Asunto(s)
/metabolismo , AMP Cíclico/metabolismo , Dictyostelium/enzimología , Dictyostelium/genética , Subunidades alfa de la Proteína de Unión al GTP Gi-Go/metabolismo , Proteínas Protozoarias/metabolismo , /genética , Dictyostelium/crecimiento & desarrollo , Dictyostelium/metabolismo , Regulación hacia Abajo/efectos de los fármacos , Proteínas de la Matriz Extracelular/genética , Proteínas de la Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Ácido Fólico/farmacología , /deficiencia , /genética , /metabolismo , Subunidades alfa de la Proteína de Unión al GTP Gi-Go/deficiencia , Subunidades alfa de la Proteína de Unión al GTP Gi-Go/genética , Mutación , Proteína Quinasa 1 Activada por Mitógenos/genética , Proteína Quinasa 1 Activada por Mitógenos/metabolismo , Proteínas Protozoarias/genética , Transducción de Señal , Esporas Protozoarias/enzimología , Esporas Protozoarias/genética , Complejo Vitamínico B/farmacologíaRESUMEN
cAMP-dependent protein kinases (PKA) are the primary mediators of cAMP action, binding of cAMP leading to the dissociation of an inactive tetrameric enzyme into a dimer of regulatory (R) subunits and two active catalytic (C) subunit monomers. The catalytic subunits then phosphorylate specific protein substrates, on serine and threonine residues, thereby altering the biochemical properties of these proteins. Changes in cAMP-dependent protein kinase levels have been reported in mammalian cells during differentiation and development, during progression through the cell cycle, and in transformed cells, suggesting a role for PKA in these processes. In lower eukaryotes similar results have been reported. The veast S. cerevisiae for instance, requires correct regulation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity for normal progression through the cell cycle, sporulation and starvation-induced growth arrest. Furrthermore, regulatory subunit levels increase 8-fold in stationary-phase yeast cells. In the slime mould D. Discoideum and the aquatic fungus B. Emersonii, nutrient starvation induces cell differentiation and development, and a drastic increase in cAMP-dependent protein kinase subunit levels is observed during these processes.