Effects of Ving Tsun sticking-hand training on upper-limb sensorimotor performance in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults: A randomized controlled trial.

The sample was small (33 randomized) because the authors assumed a large effect size of 1.35, so true training effects may have been missed. Participants were not blinded to group assignment, so expectations could have influenced effort on force tests. Time to peak force improved in several muscles in both groups, and the authors suggest a testing effect rather than training. Strength was tested as static isometric force, which may not capture gains from dynamic sticking-hand practice. The study did not measure daily reaching, object manipulation, skilled movements or functional independence, so functional benefit is unknown. Four VT participants and five controls dropped out, and missing data were carried forward, which can dilute effects. Participants had to be independently ambulant and free of stroke, cognitive impairment, unstable medical conditions, fragility and regular sports training, so results may not apply to frailer patients.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Do not read the 33.8% shoulder flexor improvement as evidence that Ving Tsun improves upper-limb function or proprioception. The primary elbow position sense outcome was null, peak force did not improve, and other time-to-peak-force changes occurred in both groups, possibly due to a testing effect.