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Abstract
Dynamic and static body postures are a defining characteristic of mind-body practices such as Tai Chi and Qigong (TCQ). A growing body of evidence supports the hypothesis that TCQ may be beneficial for psychological health, including management and prevention of depression and anxiety. Although a variety of causal factors have been identified as potential mediators of such health benefits, physical posture, despite its visible prominence, has been largely overlooked. We hypothesize that body posture while standing and/or moving may be a key therapeutic element mediating the influence of TCQ on psychological health. In the present paper, we summarize existing experimental and observational evidence that suggests a bi-directional relationship between body posture and mental states. Drawing from embodied cognitive science, we provide a theoretical framework for further investigation into this interrelationship. We discuss the challenges involved in such an investigation and propose suggestions for future studies. Despite theoretical and practical challenges, we propose that the role of posture in mind-body exercises such as TCQ should be considered in future research.
Highlights
Tai Chi and Qigong (TCQ) are two increasingly popular mind-body interventions being therapeutically used and medically prescribed for the prevention and rehabilitation of a wide range of health conditions, including mood disorders (Lauche et al, 2016)
Several studies evaluating gait dynamics have shown a significant association between increased swing time variability, a marker of gait unsteadiness, and diagnosis of major depressive disorder (Hausdorff et al, 2004; Radovanovicet al., 2014), depressive symptoms (Herman et al, 2005; Brandler et al, 2012), and fear of falling (Herman et al, 2005). This evidence suggests that transient emotional states and chronic mood disorders can lead to changes in body posture and movement
A main goal of this paper is to introduce and explore the hypothesis that body postures in Tai Chi, Qigong, and related mind-body practices may be one biological factor contributing to improvements in psychological wellbeing
Summary
Tai Chi and Qigong (TCQ) are two increasingly popular mind-body interventions being therapeutically used and medically prescribed for the prevention and rehabilitation of a wide range of health conditions, including mood disorders (Lauche et al, 2016). Results from the questionnaires revealed that in addition to changes in posture height, the participants reported increased feelings of irritation and feeling worse about themselves after listing disappointment-related words than after listing words associated with pride (Oosterwijk et al, 2009) Observational studies, those evaluating posture in chronic conditions, support the results of experimental research. Several studies evaluating gait dynamics have shown a significant association between increased swing time variability, a marker of gait unsteadiness, and diagnosis of major depressive disorder (Hausdorff et al, 2004; Radovanovicet al., 2014), depressive symptoms (Herman et al, 2005; Brandler et al, 2012), and fear of falling (Herman et al, 2005) Taken together, this evidence suggests that transient emotional states and chronic mood disorders can lead to changes in body posture and movement. During a subsequent free recall task, those who sat in the slumped posture remembered more negative words, while those in the upright posture showed no significant difference in number of positive and negative words remembered (Michalak et al, 2014)
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