Relative exercise intensity of Tai Chi Chuan is similar in different ages and gender

This study aims to determine the relative exercise intensity of classical Yang Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) in different ages and gender. One hundred TCC practitioners (54 men and 46 women) aged 25 to 80 years participated in this investigation. Men and women were separated into three groups: young (25-44 y/o), middle-aged (45-64 y/o) and elderly (65-80 y/o). Heart rate (HR) responses during TCC practice were measured by using electrocardiographic telemetry. An exercise test with breath-by-breath measurements of cardiorespiratory function was also performed for each subject during the incremental exercise of leg cycling. Measurements obtained during the TCC practice and exercise testing were compared to determine the exercise intensity of TCC. While performing TCC, the mean HR of men was 141 +/- 12 bpm, 132 +/- 9 bpm and 120 +/- 10 bpm in the young, middle-aged and elderly groups, respectively. Men practiced TCC with mean HR corresponding to 57.8 +/- 3.7%, 56.6 +/- 3.4% and 55.1 +/- 3.1% of heart rate reserve (HRR) in the three groups. Meanwhile, the mean HR of women was 136 +/- 10 bpm, 126 +/- 11 bpm and 115 +/- 12 bpm in the young, middle-aged and elderly groups, respectively. Women practiced TCC with mean HR corresponding to 52.7 +/- 2.8%, 51.5 +/- 2.6% and 50.3 +/- 2.9% of HRR in the three age groups. The results demonstrate that classical Yang TCC is an exercise with moderate intensity, and its exercise intensity is similar across different ages in each gender. In conclusion, TCC is an aerobic exercise and suitable for participants of different ages and gender to improve their functional capacity.     

Heart rate responses and oxygen consumption during Tai Chi Chuan practice.

Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is a popular Chinese conditioning exercise, however, its exercise intensity remains controversial. The objective of this study was to determine the exercise intensity of Yang TCC by measuring heart rate (HR) responses and oxygen consumption (VO2) during practice. Fifteen men aged 39.9 +/- 9.5 yrs (range 26-56 yrs) participated in this study. Subjects had practiced classical Yang TCC for 5.8 +/- 2.4 years. HR responses and VO2 were measured during practice of TCC by using a K4 telemetry system. Blood lactate was measured before and immediately after TCC practice. Additionally, breath-by-breath measurement of cardiorespiratory function and sequential determination of blood lactate were performed during the incremental exercise of leg cycling. Measurements obtained during the TCC practice and exercise testing were compared to determine the exercise intensity of TCC. While performing TCC, the mean HR of subjects was 140 +/- 10 bpm, and the mean VO2 was 21.4 +/- 1.5 mL x kg(-1) min(-1). Compared with the data of the exercise test, the HR during practice was 58% of the heart rate range. Meanwhile, the VO2 during TCC practice was 55% of the VO2peak. Additionally, the level of blood lactate immediately after TCC practice was 3.8 mM, which reflected the level of lactate during TCC, approximated the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA). The results demonstrate that TCC is an exercise with moderate intensity, and is aerobic in nature.     

太极拳国内外研究进展

太极拳是一种强调运动者依靠体内外间协调平衡、松紧有持、阴阳同济的体育运动形式。太极拳在国内外广泛传播的同时,太极拳运动的研究也在蓬勃开展。文章从太极拳的生物学效应出发,从慢性阻塞性肺疾病、心血管疾病、Ⅱ型糖尿病、中风后遗症、骨关节炎等方向对太极拳的研究近况进行综述。     

太极拳锻炼防治骨质疏松症的Meta分析

目的:评价太极拳锻炼防治骨质疏松症的有效性。方法:计算机检索PubMed、Web of science、The Cochrane Library、Embase、中国生物医学文献数据库、维普网、万方数据库、中国知网收录的太极拳锻炼防治骨质疏松症的随机对照试验文献,检索时限为建库至2020年7月15日。对照组不干预或口服常规抗骨质疏松药物,试验组在对照组的基础上联合太极拳锻炼干预。由2名研究人员独立检索、筛选文献,提取资料并评价纳入研究的偏倚风险。采用Revman5.3软件进行Meta分析。结果:共纳入18篇文献。Meta分析结果显示,试验组腰椎骨密度改善程度优于对照组[I²=0%,P=0.960;SMD=0.17,95%CI(0.01,0.33),P=0.030],股骨颈骨密度改善程度优于对照组[I²=0%,P=0.910;SMD=0.24,95%CI(0.09,0.38),P=0.001],Ward三角骨密度改善程度优于对照组[I²=0%,P=0.730;SMD=0.21,95%CI(-0.00,0.43),P=0.050],2组患者股骨大转子骨密度改善程度的差异无统计学意义[I²=0%,P=0.720;SMD=0.14,95%CI(-0.08,0.36),P=0.210];2组患者的跟骨超声振幅衰减改善程度、跟骨骨质指数改善程度比较,组间差异均无统计学意义[I²=0%,P=0.980;SMD=0.13,95%CI(-0.24,0.50),P=0.490;I²=0%,P=0.940;SMD=0.11,95%CI(-0.26,0.47),P=0.570];试验组跟骨超声传播速度改善程度优于对照组[I²=0%,P=0.980;SMD=0.50,95%CI(-0.13,0.87),P=0.009];试验组血清钙浓度改善程度优于对照组[I²=0%,P=0.860;SMD=-0.33,95%CI(-0.58,-0.07),P=0.010];2组患者的血清磷浓度和血清碱性磷酸酶浓度改善程度比较,组间差异均无统计学意义[I²=0%,P=0.980;SMD=0.09,95%CI(-0.16,0.34),P=0.480;I²=0%,P=0.610;SMD=-0.01,95%CI(-0.27,0.24),P=0.930];试验组的治疗有效率高于对照组[I²=0%,P=0.680;RR=11.74,95%CI(3.71,37.17),P=0.000]。利用股骨颈骨密度作发表偏倚分析,结果显示漏斗图上各研究点分布基本对称,提示存在发表偏倚的可能性较小。结论:现有的证据表明,太极拳锻炼可以有效提高锻炼者的骨密度,改善骨代谢,对骨质疏松症有较好的防治作用。     

Effects of Tai Chi exercise on physical and mental health of college students

The purpose of this pilot study is to examine the effects of Tai Chi Quan, a body-mind harmony exercise, on college students' perceptions of their physical and mental health. A three-month intervention of Tai Chi exercise was administered to college students, and multidimensional physical (PHD) and mental (MHD) health scores were assessed using the SF-36v2 health survey questionnaire before and after the intervention. Thirty college students participated in a 1-hour-long Tai Chi exercise intervention twice a week for 3 months. Each practice session included 10 minutes of breathing and stretching exercises followed by 50 minutes of Tai Chi Quan 24-form practice. PHD including physical function (PF), role physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), and MHD including social function (SF), role mental/emotion function (RE), vitality (VT), perceptions of mental health (MH) were assessed. The normalized scores of each variable and the combined PHD or MHD scores before and after the Tai Chi intervention were examined by paired t-test (p < 0.05). Physical measures of BP and GH, and mental measures of RE, VT and MH were significantly improved after Tai Chi exercise intervention. When the overall PHD or MHD scores were evaluated, the MHD had increased significantly. In conclusion, Tai Chi exercise had positive effects on the self-assessed physical and mental health of college students. Scores on the mental health dimension appeared to be particularly sensitive to change. Colleges/universities might consider offering Tai Chi as a component of their ongoing physical activity programs available to students.     

太极拳运动在老年帕金森病患者步态及平衡障碍康复中的应用研究进展

近年来随着医疗水平的提升,运动康复训练越来越受到人们的重视。随着太极拳运动在康复医学中的推广应用,其作为神经系统疾病后期康复训练及补充替代治疗手段之一,也逐渐受到重视及认可。笔者通过系统回顾国内外相关研究,探讨太极拳运动对老年帕金森病患者运动功能及平衡功能的影响,旨在进一步明确太极拳运动的治疗效果,为老年帕金森病患者提供一种即安全可行又高效的康复训练方法。     

Comparison of the effects of Tai Chi Chuan and Wai Tan Kung exercises on autonomic nervous system modulation and on hemodynamics in elder adults

The health of the middle-aged and elderly people is a major concern given the rapid aging population and rising costs of medical care. Low-impact exercise on a regular basis is ideal for maintaining the well-being of an aging population. Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is the most well-known and most widely practiced form of low-impact martial arts therapy and has been shown to have positive health effects. A lesser-known form of martial arts therapy is Wai Tan Kung (WTK), which our previous study found to have positive health effects as well. The present study compares the effects of TCC and WTK on autonomic nervous system modulation and on hemodynamics in adults among non-exercising control (30), TCC practitioners (30) and WTK practitioners (30). Our study found that in a short-term, WTK and TCC exercises enhanced the vagal modulation, lowered the sympathetic modulation and lowered arterial blood pressures in the practitioners. It was also observed that the forced vital capacity of TCC practitioners was significantly higher than that of WTK practitioners before exercise. There were no significant differences in the percentage changes in HRV measures and hemodynamics between WTK and TCC practitioners 30 and 60 min after exercise, indicating that the effects of WTK and TCC were similar in magnitude. In conclusion, TCC and WTK are comparable to each other in terms of their effects on autonomic nervous system modulation and hemodynamics, thus suggesting that WTK can be just as beneficial as TCC as a form of low-impact exercise for elderly adults.     

The earliest acupuncture school of the United States incubated in a Tai Chi Center in Los Angeles

<正>Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)arrived in the United States(U.S.)in 1854[1].Initially,most TCM providers were herbalists[1,2],w ith very few being acupuncturists.Based on my research,the earliest acupuncturist to practice in     

柴胡加龙骨牡蛎汤加减联合太极拳运动治疗抑郁症40例临床观察

目的:观察柴胡加龙骨牡蛎汤加减联合太极拳运动治疗肝气阻滞兼痰热型抑郁症的临床疗效。方法:将80例肝气阻滞兼痰热型抑郁症患者随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组各40例。治疗组给予柴胡加龙骨牡蛎汤加减联合太极拳运动治疗,对照组给予盐酸帕罗西汀治疗。2组疗程均为6周。观察患者的综合疗效及抑郁自评量表(SDS)评分、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)评分、中医证候评分、不良反应量表(TESS)评分。结果:治疗组脱落1例,对照组脱落2例。综合疗效总有效率治疗组为94.87%(37/39),对照组为81.58%(31/38),2组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);2组治疗2、4、6周后SDS、HAMD及中医证候评分均低于治疗前(P<0.01),且治疗组治疗后各时间节点的SDS、HAMD、TESS及中医证候评分均低于对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01)。结论:柴胡加龙骨牡蛎汤加减联合太极拳运动治疗肝气阻滞兼痰热型抑郁症疗效确切,且无明显不良反应,值得临床推广应用。     

Effects of Qigong on blood pressure,blood pressure determinants and ventilatory function in middle-aged patients with essential hypertension

This study was designed to measure changes in blood pressure (BP), urinary catecholamines and ventilatory functions of patients with mild essential hypertension after 10 weeks of Qigong (Shuxinpingxuegong). Fifty-eight patients volunteered to participate in this study and were randomly divided into either a Qigong group (n = 29), or a control group (n = 29). Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the Qigong group such that both became significantly lower after 10 weeks in the Qigong than in the control group. Also, there was a significant reduction of norepinephrine, metanephrine and epinephrine compared to baseline values in the Qigong group. The ventilatory functions, forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume per sec, were increased in the Qigong group but not the control. These results suggest that Qigong may stabilize the sympathetic nervous system is effective in modulating levels of urinary catecholamines and BP positively, and in improving ventilatory functions in mildly hypertensive middle-aged patients.     

Comparison of the effects of Tai Chi and resistance training on bone metabolism in the elderly: a feasibility study

This feasibility study compared the effects of Tai Chi (TC) and resistance training (RT) on bone metabolism in the elderly. Twenty eight sedentary, elder adults, were randomized into either TC (n = 14, 78.8 +/-1.3 years) or RT (n = 14, 79.4 +/-2.2 years) to participate in 40 min of exercise per session, 3 sessions/week for 24 weeks. The outcome measures assessed were the concentrations of serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), pyridinoline (PYD), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium, and urinary calcium. The TC group had a higher compliance rate than the RT group. After 6 weeks, (i) both TC and RT resulted in higher level of serum BAP relative to the baseline and the TC group exhibited a greater increase in serum BAP than the RT group; (ii) there was an increase of serum PYD in the RT group only, not in the TC group; and (iii) the BAP/PYD ratio was higher than baseline only in the TC group, and the increase of the ratio in the TC group was greater than that in the RT group. After 12 weeks, the increase in serum PTH in the TC group was higher than the RT group. After 24 weeks, there was a reduction of the urinary calcium level in the TC group relative to the baseline. In conclusion, these findings support that TC is beneficial for increasing bone formation in elderly, and long-term application is needed to substantiate the effect of TC as an alternative exercise in promotion of bone health.     

Effects of Tai Chi on gait kinematics, physical function, and pain in elderly with knee osteoarthritis--a pilot study

Our previous study has demonstrated that 6 weeks of Tai Chi exercise significantly improves knee pain and stiffness in elderly with knee osteoarthritis. This study also examine the effects of Tai Chi exercise on gait kinematics, physical function, pain, and pain self-efficacy in elderly with knee osteoarthritis. In this prospective, pretest-posttest clinical trial, 40 men and women (64.4+/-8.3 years) diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis participated in 6 weeks of instructed Tai Chi training, 1 hour/session, 2 sessions/week. The following measures were taken at baseline and the conclusion of the intervention: (a) gait kinematics including stride length, stride frequency, and gait speed quantified using video analysis, (b) physical function, (c) knee pain, and (d) pain self-efficacy. Data were analyzed using repeated MANCOVA, MANOVA, ANOVA and Wilcoxon tests. After 6 weeks of Tai Chi exercise, stride length (p=0.023; 1.17+/-0.17 vs. 1.20+/-0.14 m), stride frequency (p=0.014; 0.91+/-0.08 vs. 0.93+/-0.08 strides/s), and consequently gait speed (p<0.025; 1.06+/-0.19 vs. 1.12+/-0.15 m/s) increased in the participants. Physical function was significantly improved (p<0.001) and knee pain was significantly decreased (p=0.002), while no change was observed in pain self-efficacy. In conclusion, these findings support that Tai Chi is beneficial for gait kinematics in elderly with knee osteoarthritis, and a longer term application is needed to substantiate the effect of Tai Chi as an alternative exercise in management of knee osteoarthritis.     

Effects of Tai Chi on health outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo explore the effects and dose–response relationship of Tai Chi for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to evaluate the methodological quality of the included trials and evidence quality of the outcomes.MethodsNine major English and Chinese databases were searched for randomized controlled trials of Tai Chi for T2DM from inception to December 2021. The effects and dose–response relationships were assessed with a meta-analysis and meta-regression using Stata.16. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the risk of bias tool. The evidence quality of the outcomes was assessed using the GRADE tool.ResultsA total of 24 studies with 1314 patients were included. Compared with the usual care, Tai Chi improved HbA1c (MD = ?0.80%, 95% CI [?1.05, ?0.54], P < .001, I² = 18.29%, very low–quality evidence), FBG (SMD = ?0.58, 95% CI [?0.86, ?0.31], P < .001, I² = 53.2%, low-quality evidence), fasting insulin (FIN), diastolic blood pressure, BMI, and the outcomes of quality of life (QoL) in patients with T2DM. However, when Tai Chi was compared with other exercise, there was no between-group difference in the HbA1c, FBG, TC, TG, HDL, LDL, BMI, and waist circumference (WC). Furthermore, the findings showed that an increase at every 18 weeks in length or an 823-h increase in the total time of Tai Chi intervention resulted in approximately a one unit reduction in the SMD of FBG.ConclusionCompared with usual care, Tai Chi may improve HbA1c (with clinical significance), FBG, FIN, BMI, diastolic blood pressure, and outcomes of QoL in T2DM patients. The effects of Tai Chi were similar to those of other exercises on the HbA1c, FBG, TC, TG, HDL, LDL, BMI, and WC. Given the overall poor methodological quality and evidence quality, these findings should be treated cautiously.     

Protocol: The Effect of 12 Weeks of Tai Chi Practice on Anxiety in Healthy but Stressed People Compared to Exercise and Wait-list Comparison Groups: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Stress is a major problem in today’s fast-paced society and can lead to serious psychosomatic complications. The ancient Chinese mind–body exercise of Tai Chi may provide an alternative and self-sustaining option to pharmaceutical medication for stressed individuals to improve their coping mechanisms. The protocol of this study is designed to evaluate whether Tai Chi practice is equivalent to standard exercise and whether the Tai Chi group is superior to a wait-list control group in improving stress coping levels. This study is a 6-week, three-arm, parallel, randomized, clinical trial designed to evaluate Tai Chi practice against standard exercise and a Tai Chi group against a nonactive control group over a period of 6 weeks with a 6-week follow-up. A total of 72 healthy adult participants (aged 18–60 years) who are either Tai Chi naïve or have not practiced Tai Chi in the past 12 months will be randomized into a Tai Chi group (n = 24), an exercise group (n = 24) or a wait-list group (n = 24). The primary outcome measure will be the State Trait Anxiety Inventory with secondary outcome measures being the Perceived Stress Scale 14, heart rate variability, blood pressure, Short Form 36 and a visual analog scale. The protocol is reported using the appropriate Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) items.     

针刺结合饮食调整及有氧运动对单纯性肥胖症患者血清瘦素的影响

目的观察针刺结合饮食调整及有氧运动对单纯性肥胖症患者血清瘦素(LEP)的影响。方法 61例单纯性肥胖症患者随机分为2组。对照组30例采用饮食调整及有氧运动治疗。治疗组31例在对照组治疗基础上进行针刺治疗。3个疗程后观察2组血清LEP含量。结果 2组治疗后LEP较本组治疗前均明显降低(P0.01),且治疗组治疗后LEP低于对照组(P0.05)。结论针刺结合饮食调整及有氧运动有效降低单纯性肥胖症患者血清LEP含量。     

针刺结合饮食调整及有氧运动对单纯性肥胖症患者体质量及腰臀比的影响

目的:比较针刺结合饮食调整及有氧运动与单纯饮食调整结合有氧运动治疗单纯性肥胖症的疗效差异,科学地评价针刺结合饮食调整及有氧运动对肥胖症患者的治疗效应。方法:将61例患者随机分为观察组(31例)、对照组(30例)。对照组采用饮食调整及有氧运动进行治疗,观察组在此基础上,针刺中脘、天枢、关元、足三里、丰隆、阴陵泉等穴,每天1次,15天为一疗程。3个疗程后观察两组治疗前后体质量及腰臀比(WHR)的变化。结果:第1疗程后,观察组体质量及WHR均明显低于对照组(均P0.05);第2疗程后,两组体质量及WHR差异均无统计学意义(均P0.05);第3疗程后,观察组体质量明显低于对照组(P0.05),WHR无明显差异(P0.05);治疗前后比较,两组体质量及WHR均明显降低(均P0.01);体质量治疗前后差值比较,观察组明显高于对照组(P0.01)。结论:两种方法均可以降低患者体质量及WHR,针刺结合饮食调整及有氧运动在治疗早期对体质量及WHR作用更明显。     

电针结合饮食、有氧运动对单纯性肥胖症患者腰臀比值及血清瘦素的影响

目的 观察电针结合饮食、有氧运动疗法对单纯性肥胖症患者腰臀比值(WHR)及血清瘦素(Lep)水平的影响.方法 将61例单纯性肥胖症患者随机分为2组,对照组30例予饮食、有氧运动疗法,治疗组31例在对照组治疗基础上加电针治疗.2组饮食、有氧运动疗法连续51 d,电针疗法15次为1个疗程,每个疗程间隔3d,连续3个疗程.3...     

10周有氧运动对2型糖尿病患者DNA氧化损伤的影响及机制分析

目的观察为期10周的中等强度有氧运动对2型糖尿病(T2DM)患者DNA氧化损伤的影响并探讨其可能机制。方法将40例T2DM患者随机分为T2DM运动组(TE组,n=20)和T2DM安静组(TR组,n=20),另外选取20例健康受试者作为对照组(C组,n=20)。TE组进行10周有氧运动,TR组和C组保持日常生活习惯。分别于实验前后测定空腹血糖(FBG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、总胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、氧化低密度脂蛋白(ox-LDL)、丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽过氧化酶(GSH-Px)活性以及8-羟基脱氧鸟苷(8-OHdG)含量。结果实验前,TE组与TR组各指标比较均无显著性差异(P0.05),但体质量、BMI、DBP、HbA1c、ox-LDL、MDA和8-OHdG均高于C组(P均0.05),而SOD和GSH-Px则低于C组(P均0.05)。实验后,TE组体质量、BMI、FBG、HbA1c、ox-LDL、MDA和8-OHdG降低(P均0.05),而SOD和GSH-Px升高(P均0.05);TR组和C组各指标均无显著变化。结论长期有氧运动可降低T2DM患者DNA氧化损伤,其机制可能与抗氧化酶活性上调以及氧化应激水平下降有关。