12-month Tai Chi training in the elderly: Its effect on health fitness
Journal
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Journal Volume
30
Journal Issue
3
Pages
345-351
Date Issued
1998
Author(s)
Abstract
Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) on health fitness in older individuals. Methods: Thirty- eight community-dwelling persons aged 58 to 70 yr completed this study. The TCC group included 9 men and l I women; the control group included 9 men and 9 women. The TCC group practiced TCC for 11.2 ± 1.4 months, with the attendance of 4.6 ± 1.3 times · wk-1. Each session included 20 min of warm-up, 24 min of TCC Practice, and 10 min of cooldown. The exercise intensity was 52-63% of the heart rate range. Cardiorespiratory function, strength, flexibility, and percent of body fat were evaluated before and at the end of this study. Results: The male TCC group showed 16.1% increase in V?O2(max) (P < 0.01), 11°increase in thoracic/lumbar flexibility (P < 0.05), 18.1% increase in muscle strength of knee extensor (P < 0.01), mad 15.4% increase of knee flexor (P < 0.05). The female TCC group showed 21.3% increase in V?O2(max) (P < 0.01), 8.8°increase in flexibility (P < 0.05), 20.3% increase in muscle strength of knee extensor (P < 0.05), and 15.9% increase of knee flexor (P < 0.05). The control group showed no significant change in these variables. Conclusions: The results indicate that a 12-month Tai Chi Chuan program is effective for improving health times of the elderly.
SDGs
Other Subjects
adult; aged; aging; article; body composition; cardiopulmonary hemodynamics; chinese; clinical article; clinical protocol; controlled study; exercise; extensor muscle; female; fitness; flexor muscle; heart rate; human; knee function; male; muscle strength; quality of life; taiwan; Aged; Analysis of Variance; Evaluation Studies; Exercise Test; Female; Hemodynamic Processes; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Education and Training; Physical Fitness; Pliability; Respiratory Function Tests; Skinfold Thickness
Type
journal article