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Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Translated Title

太極拳之實際保健效果

Abstract

Chinese shadow-boxing (Tai Chi Chuan) is a representative traditional exercise for health promotion. It has been developed for many dynasties, and well established in its own model at the end of Ming Dynasty(AC 1644). It consists many fundamental postures with slow graceful movements in addition to the proper rhythm of deep breathing and mind concentration.In order to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi Chuan, 110 cases were divided into 2 groups in this study. The middle age group aged from 52 to 65 included 35 Tai Chi Chuan practitioners (15 male and 20 female), compared with 33 sedentary subjects(15 male and 18 female) in matched age and body size as control group. The geriatric group aged from 66 to 78 had 23 Tai Chi Chuan practitioners (13 male and 10 female) while the control group had 19 volunteers (11 male and 8 female). The investigations inculded BP, trunk flexibility, skin fold thickness, EKG, and detail cardiopulmonary function test. Breath-by-breath measurement of cardiorespiratory function was obtained during incremental exercises by leg cycling. Anaerobic threshold(AT) was determined by alterations in respiratory gas exchange parameters. Mean oxygen uptake per body weight at maximal exercise were significant higher in Tai Chi Chuan practitioners at both middle age and geriatric group than the control group. This study suggests that Tai Chi Chuan may improve cardiorespiratory fitness of middle age people as well as in geriatrics.

Language

Traditional Chinese

First Page

92

Last Page

98

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