Brisk Walking Training Research Articles

IMPACT OF BRISK WALKING AND PRANAYAMA ON SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE OF MIDDLE AGED TAMILNADU POLICE OFFICERS

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of brisk walking and pranayama training on the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of Tamil Nadu police officers aged 40-50 years. A total of forty-five police officers from Villupuram district participated in the study. The participants were divided into three groups: a control group and two experimental groups. Group I (N=15) received brisk walking training, Group II (N=15) underwent pranayama training, and Group III (N=15) served as the control group without any specific intervention. The training program lasted for twelve weeks, during which the systolic blood pressure of all participants was measured both before and after the intervention. Data were statistically analyzed using covariance analysis to determine the significance of the interventions. The results indicated that both brisk walking and pranayama training had a significant positive effect on the systolic blood pressure of the police officers, with participants in the experimental groups showing considerable improvement compared to the control group. The findings suggest that incorporating physical activities like brisk walking and pranayama into the daily routine of police officers could be an effective strategy for managing and reducing systolic blood pressure, thereby enhancing cardiovascular health.

Effects of brisk walking with or without music on body composition, standing balance, cardiovascular parameters, and salivary biomarkers in older women.

This study aimed to assess and compare changes in body composition, standing balance, cardiovascular parameters, and salivary biomarkers, particularly salivary antioxidant status, after brisk walking training with or without music in older women. Twenty-four subjects were randomly assigned to brisk walking groups: with music (BWM) (n=12) or without music (BW) (n=12). Eighteen subjects completed the exercise training (9 in each group), and their data were used for analysis. The research protocols were classified into three phases: pretraining phase, training phase, and posttraining phase, while the data collection was divided into four sessions: resting condition, during treadmill exercise testing, immediately posttreadmill exercise testing, and 5-min posttreadmill exercise testing defined as after the cool-down session. The results showed that 8 weeks of home-based brisk walking with or without music did not improve standing balance, blood pressure, salivary biomarkers including total protein concentration, and antioxidant status but maintained or prevented the decline of these parameters. Only the BWM group reduced fat mass relative to increasing fat-free mass (P<0.05) and improved recovery heart rate (P<0.05) by modifying cardiac autonomic control in posttreadmill exercise testing. Therefore, brisk walking with preferred music can be a tool to delay the progression of cardiovascular dysfunction in older women. A longer duration of the exercise program and larger groups of participants are needed for further investigation of brisk walking with or without music on physiological and biochemical changes.

The effect of structured brain gym and brisk walking training on the executive functions of university students: a single-blinded randomised controlled trial

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of structured brain gym and brisk walking training on the executive functions (inhibitory control, working memory and cognitive flexibility) of university students. The study was designed as a single-blinded prospective randomised controlled trial with the participation of university students. 42 sedentary university students(18–25 years) joined in the study. The participants were randomly divided into three groups (two intervention groups and one control group): The Structured Brain Gym Group (SBGG), the Brisk Walking Group (BWG) and the Control Group (CG). The interventions consisted of 50-min exercise twice a week for an 8-week period. BWG attended into brisk walking programme as moderate-intensity aerobic exercise; meanwhile, SBGG performed structured brain gym activities. CG did not participate in any regular physical activities during the 8 weeks. Executive function tests (Stroop colour test, forward and backward digit span test, frontal assessment battery and verbal fluency test) were applied to the participants as a pre-test and post-test. Kruskal–Wallis, Wilcoxon test and Mann–Whitney U tests were used in the statistical analyses. According to the statistical analysis, both BWG and SBGG indicated significant improvement in inhibitory control (p < 0.05) and general frontal functions (p < 0.05) following the intervention. However, compared to BWG, the improvement in inhibitory control was better in SBGG. No change was found in working memory and cognitive flexibility in any of the groups. We can recommend that cognitively demanding and fun aerobic exercise tasks can be used to improve young adult’s inhibitory control.

Effectiveness of Yijinjing on cognitive and motor functions in patients with Parkinson's disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that affects motor and non-motor functions, significantly reducing patients' quality of life. No effective drug-based treatments are known to solve this problem. Non-drug therapies such as Yijinjing exercise have shown potential in improving cognitive and motor functions in PD patients. However, solid evidence must still be provided to support their clinical efficacy. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Yijinjing exercise interventions in PD patients and explore the underlying mechanisms between the cognitive and motor functions in PD. This is a single-center randomized controlled trial in which 96 eligible PD patients will be randomly assigned to receive either Yijinjing exercise group or brisk walking group or control group in a ratio of 1:1:1. Interventions (Yijinjing exercise or brisk walking training, 40 min per session) will be provided in 3 sessions per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) for 12 weeks, with a total of 36 sessions. After the treatment, there will be a 1-month follow-up period. The primary outcomes will be measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor section (UPDRS-III). Secondary outcomes include balance function, executive function, walking function, sleep quality, and quality of life. Additionally, the prefrontal cerebral and sensorimotor cortex blood oxygen signal level will be collected to explore the underlying mechanisms. All outcomes will be assessed at baseline, at the end of 12 weeks of treatment and after an additional 1-month follow-up period. The results of the study protocol will provide high-quality evidence for the potential of intervention measures based on the Yijinjing exercise to improve the cognitive and activity levels of Parkinson's disease patients. We envision the Yijinjing exercise as a non-pharmacological family activity that can provide a new and more effective method for the treatment of Parkinson's disease patients or those at risk. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai (2020-05-01). The trial has been registered in the China Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2200055636).

The effects of an e-health brisk walking intervention in increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in physically inactive older people with cognitive frailty: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundCognitive frailty is a risk for many adverse health outcomes that are commonly observed in older people. Physical activity is known to be effective to reserve cognitive frailty but the prevalence of physical inactivity is still high in older people. E-health enhances behavioural change effects through an innovative way to deliver behavioural change methods that can enhance the behavioural change effects. However, its effects on older people with cognitive frailty, its effects compared with conventional behavioural change methods, and the sustainability of the effects are unclear.MethodsThis study employs a single-blinded, two-parallel-group, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial design with a 1:1 group allocation ratio. Eligible participants are aged 60 years or above, have cognitive frailty and physical inactivity, and possess a smartphone for more than six months. The study will be conducted in community settings. In the intervention group, participants will receive a 2-week brisk-walking training followed by a 12-week e-health intervention. In the control group, participants will receive a 2-week brisk-walking training followed by a 12-week conventional behavioural change intervention. The primary outcome is minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). This study aims to recruit a total of 184 participants. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) will be used to examine the effects of the intervention.Ethics and disseminationThe trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05758740) on 7th March 2023, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05758740, and all items come from the World Health Organization Trial Registration Data Set. It has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Tung Wah College, Hong Kong (reference number: REC2022136). The findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences relevant to the subject fields.Trial registrationThe trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05758740) and all items come from the World Health Organization Trial Registration Data Set. The latest version of the protocol was published online on 7th March 2023.

In Pranayama practioners and Brisk Walking training among Sedentary Women Impact on Vital Capacity and Aggression

In Pranayama practioners and Brisk Walking training among Sedentary Women Impact on Vital Capacity and Aggression

Effets d’un programme de marche rapide chez le sujet institutionnalisé sur l’activité du système nerveux ­autonome

Introduction: The age-related decline of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity is a well-known risk factor for adverse cardiovascular outcomes that can be prevented through regular physical activity (PA) but PA engagement remains too low in older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 9-month brisk walking training on the ANS activity assessed through the measure of heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: Sixty-one older adults aged 60 and over were recruited among 14 French nursing homes to participate in a randomized control trial that consisted of a 9-month brisk walking training. They were randomized into three intervention groups: 1 exercise session per week, 3 exercise sessions per week, and a control group. HRV was measured at baseline and at the 3, 6, and 9-month visits. Results: Compared with individuals from the control group and those who exercised 1 day per week, older adults who performed 3 sessions per week exhibited a significant improvement in HRV indices of parasympathetic activity (root mean square of successive differences – RMSSD). Conclusion: Regular PA performed 3 times per week is effective in enhancing cardiac autonomic drive in nursing home older adults aged 60 and over.

Effects of Different Running Intensity on Serum Levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in Patients with Early Knee Osteoarthritis.

To investigate the effects of different running intensities on interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in patients with early knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Clinical comparative study. Department of Orthopedics, Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China, from January 2019 to January 2021. A total of 131 patients with early KOA admitted to Longyan First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University from January 2019 to January 2021 were selected and randomly divided into four groups using the random number table method: Group A (static control group, 34 cases), Group B (walking group, 32 cases), Group C (brisk walking group, 32 cases), and Group D (jogging group, 33 cases), and the training duration of the four groups was 6 months. Moreover, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, the activity of daily living (ADL), Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA) scores, and adverse events before and after training were compared between the four groups. No statistical significance was observed in the differences of TNF-α, IL-6, ADL-advanced ability, ADL-basic ability, FMA-upper limb, and FMA-lower limb among the four groups before training (p>0.05). After training, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 of the four groups were decreased, while the scores of FMA and ADL were increased. Group C had the highest FMA-upper limb and FMA-lower limb scores, ADL- advanced ability and ADL-basic ability after training, which were higher than those in groups A, B, and D (p<0.05). No statistical significance could be observed in the difference in the adverse event rate among the four groups during training (X2=3.339, p>0.05). Exercise training of different intensities, such as slow walking, brisk walking, and jogging, is touted to enhance the overall recovery of patients with early KOA. The exercise intensity of brisk walking training is moderate, and the activity of daily living and exercise ability of patients are significantly improved after training, while the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 are obviously decreased. Knee osteoarthritis, Interleukin-6, Exercise training, Exercise intensity, Tumor necrosis factor α.

Pelatihan Jalan Cepat Meningkatkan Kebugaran Jasmani Ditinjau Dari Volume Oksigen Maksimal

Physiological adaptation of physical training is so that the body does not experience fatigue quickly during daily physical activities, prevents obesity and improves one's physical health. Physical training has an important role to maintain and improve the degree of physical fitness seen from the ability of VO2Max. This study aims to determine brisk walking training can improve physical fitness in terms of VO2Max. This type of research is experimental with the randomized pretest posttest control group design. The sample of this research is the students of SMA Negeri 3 Singaraja, Participants of the Badminton Extracurricular are 30 people divided into 2 groups. Group 1 was given brisk walking training and Group 2 as a control group, with a frequency of exercise 3 times a week for 4 weeks. VO2Max was measured by the Bleeps Test (MFT) instrument. The intra-group difference test for the mean VO2Max was tested using the paired t-test. The results of the different test with t-paired before and after training, Group 1 and Group 2 were significantly different (p&lt;0.05). The results of the VO2Max test between the two groups before and after training used the t-independent sample test. The mean VO2Max in the two groups before training with a value of p= 0.13 (p&gt;0.05) and after training with a value of p=0.00 (p&lt;0.05). In Group 1, the average VO2Max (L/m) before training was 46.07 and the average after training was 49.33 with a difference of 3.26 and the percentage increase was 7.07%. Meanwhile in Group 2, the average VO2Max before training was 43.28 and the average after training was 44.53 with a difference of 1.25 and the percentage increase was 2.88%. This shows that the treatment in group 1 and group 2 has a different effect. It was concluded that brisk walking training can improve physical fitness in terms of VO2Max.

Traditional Chinese Mind-Body Exercise Baduanjin Modulate Gray Matter and Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Brain Imaging Study.

Background:Previous studies found traditional Chinese mind-body exercise Baduanjin could modulate cognition of community older adults.Objective:This study aims to investigate the effect of 6 months of Baduanjin exercise on brain structure and cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Methods:The MCI older adults were randomly assigned into either Baduanjin training, brisk walking training or usual physical activity control group. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Wechsler Memory Scale-Chinese Revised (WMS-CR) were applied to measure gray matter volume (GMV), global cognitive ability and memory at baseline and end of intervention.Results:Compared to usual physical activity, Baduanjin exercise significantly improved MoCA, WMS-CR scores, WMS-MQ, and mental control and comprehension memory subscores of the WMS-CR; significantly increased the GMV in the temporal gyrus, frontal gyrus, parietal gyrus, medial occipital gyrus, cingulate gyrus and angular gyrus after 6 months of intervention. Compared to brisk walking, Baduanjin significantly improved MoCA scores and picture reproduction subscores of memory, and significantly increased the GMV in the right frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, occipital gyrus. Furthermore, the increased GMV in the right medial temporal gyrus was significantly associated with improvement in the MoCA scores.Conclusion:The present study suggested that regular Baduanjin training could have a positive effect in increasing brain gray matter and improving cognitive function in older adults with MCI.

Effects of an mHealth Brisk Walking Intervention on Increasing Physical Activity in Older People With Cognitive Frailty: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundCognitive frailty is the coexistence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment and is an at-risk state for many adverse health outcomes. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is protective against the progression of cognitive frailty. Physical inactivity is common in older people, and brisk walking is a feasible form of physical activity that can enhance their MVPA. Mobile health (mHealth) employing persuasive technology has been successful in increasing the levels of physical activity in older people. However, its feasibility and effects on older people with cognitive frailty are unclear.ObjectiveWe aimed to identify the issues related to the feasibility of an mHealth intervention and the trial (ie, recruitment, retention, participation, and compliance) and to examine the effects of the intervention on cognitive function, physical frailty, walking time, and MVPA.MethodsAn open-label, parallel design, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was employed. The eligibility criteria for the participants were age ≥60 years, having cognitive frailty, and having physical inactivity. In the intervention group, participants received both conventional behavior change intervention and mHealth (ie, smartphone-assisted program using Samsung Health and WhatsApp) interventions. In the control group, participants received conventional behavior change intervention only. The outcomes included cognitive function, frailty, walking time, and MVPA. Permuted block randomization in 1:1 ratio was used. The feasibility issue was described in terms of participant recruitment, retention, participation, and compliance. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to test the within-group effects in both groups separately.ResultsWe recruited 99 participants; 33 eligible participants were randomized into either the intervention group (n=16) or the control (n=17) group. The median age was 71.0 years (IQR 9.0) and the majority of them were females (28/33, 85%). The recruitment rate was 33% (33/99), the participant retention rate was 91% (30/33), and the attendance rate of all the face-to-face sessions was 100% (33/33). The majority of the smartphone messages were read by the participants within 30 minutes (91/216, 42.1%). ActiGraph (58/66 days, 88%) and smartphone (54/56 days, 97%) wearing compliances were good. After the interventions, cognitive function improvement was significant in both the intervention (P=.003) and the control (P=.009) groups. The increase in frailty reduction (P=.005), walking time (P=.03), step count (P=.02), brisk walking time (P=.009), peak cadence (P=.003), and MVPA time (P=.02) were significant only in the intervention group.ConclusionsOur mHealth intervention is feasible for implementation in older people with cognitive impairment and is effective at enhancing compliance with the brisk walking training program delivered by the conventional behavior change interventions. We provide preliminary evidence that this mHealth intervention can increase MVPA time to an extent sufficient to yield clinical benefits (ie, reduction in cognitive frailty). A full-powered and assessor-blinded RCT should be employed in the future to warrant these effects.Trial RegistrationHKU Clinical Trials Registry HKUCTR-2283; http://www.hkuctr.com/Study/Show/31df4708944944bd99e730d839db4756

Effects of brisk walking on autonomic nervous system reactivation in nursing home residents

The decrease of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity that occurs with age is associated with an increase of cardiovascular events and morbidities. It has been shown that physical activity helps reducing the ANS activity age-related decline but remains poorly practiced among nursing home residents. Therefore, we aim to compare the effects of a 9-month brisk walking training (1 time a week or 3 times a week) on the ANS activity in frail nursing home residents. One hundred 60-year-old subjects and older will be recruited within the ten nursing homes of La mutualité française Loire Haute-Loire, France (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03302923 ) and will be randomized into 3 groups: G1: one brisk walking session a week; G2: three brisk walking session a week; G3: Control group (no training). Testing procedure will occur at the inclusion and after 3 months, 6 months and 9 months of training. The primary outcome is the heart rate variability measured by 24 hours Holter ECG, especially global and parasympathetic indices such as SDNN and RMSSD respectively. The maximal distance performed during the 6-minute walk test is also used as a secondary outcome measure. Twenty-three subjects aged 80.1 ± 10.7 years currently accomplished the whole training protocol. Compared with control group, subjects trained 3 times a week experienced an increase of parasympathetic activity (RMSSD value) by 58.3% ( P < 0.01) while global (SDNN) activity did not differ significantly. Subjects from the latter group also improved their 6 min walking distance by 12.0% ( P < 0.01). A nine-month brisk walking training enhances parasympathetic activity and improves walking distance in frail institutionalized old people. In that view physical activity may prevent cardiovascular risks and might help to reduce the loss of autonomy even after 80.

Effects of 12-week brisk walking training on exercise blood pressure in elderly patients with essential hypertension: a pilot study

ABSTRACTBackground: Essential hypertension (EP) is characterized by blood pressure (BP) elevations, which often lead to target organ damage and cardiovascular illness. The following study investigates whether aerobic exercise programs with different intensities could reduce the magnitude of BP rise. Methods: Patients with essential hypertension were recruited from the Baoshan Community Health Service Center. A total of 46 patients were finally selected and randomly assigned into two groups: control group (CON) included patients who did not participate in exercise intervention training; treatment group (TRG) included patients who participated in 12-week brisk walking training (60-min of brisk walking, three times a week for a total of 12 weeks). 3-minute step tests of low and high intensity were conducted pre- and post-intervention. To compare the effects of exercise intervention, 23 subjects with normal blood pressure (NBP) who did not participate in 12-week brisk walking training, were recruited. Results: After 12 weeks of brisk walking, SBP of TRG during resting, low and high-intensity exercise was significantly reduced by 8.3mmHg, 15.6mmHg, and 22.6mmHg, respectively; while HR of TRG’s during resting, low and high intensity was significantly reduced by 3.6beats/minute, 8.7beats/minute and 11.3beats/minute, respectively. Meanwhile, after 12 weeks of brisk walking, TRG’s steps per day, o2max, moderate physical activity time and physical activity energy expenditure significantly increased by 6000 steps, 2.4 ml/kg/m, 40 minutes and 113 kcal, respectively. At the same time, TRG’s body fat rate and sedentary time significantly reduced by 2% and 60 minutes per day. Conclusion: Brisk walking can reduce the magnitude of BP rise during exercise of different intensities and may be reduced the risk of acute cardiovascular incidents in elderly patients with essential hypertension.Abbreviations: EP: Essential hypertension; BP: blood pressure; CON: control group; TRG: treatment group; NBP: normal blood pressure; PA: physical activity

Effects of brisk walking on autonomic nervous system reactivation in nursing home residents. Additional effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation

It is well established that physical activity reduces the physiological effects of ageing. Among them, is the decrease of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, which is associated with the increase of cardiovascular events and morbidities. It has been shown that high intensity cycle training can enhance the ANS activity by 30% in people with the age of 70. However, such trainings were done by old athletes, used to train at intensities that could not be tolerated by sedentary old people, such as nursing home residents. Furthermore, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a novel technique that could potentialize the training effects on the ANS by reducing the parasympathetic activity decrease that occurs after an exhausting exercise. Therefore, we aim to compare the effects of a 9-month brisk walking training (1 time a week or 3 times a week) on the ANS of nursing home residents. Also, we wish to measure the effects of post exercise VNS stimulation on the ANS activity. One hundred and fifty 60-year-old subjects and older will be recruited within the ten nursing homes of La Mutualité française de la Loire, France, and will be randomized into 5 groups: – G1: one brisk walking session a week; – G2: one brisk walking session a week + VNS; – G3: three brisk walking sessions a week; – G4: three brisk walking sessions a week + VNS; – G5: control group (no training or VNS). Testing procedure will occur at the inclusion and after 3 months, 6 months and 9 months of training. The primary outcome measure is the heart rate variability (SDNN value) measured by 24 hours Holter ECG and baroreflex. We expect an increase of the ANS activity, particularly of the parasympathetic arm, with a dose–response relationship through training. The increase would be higher for the group of subjects having trained 3 times per week and who will receive VNS. Expected conclusion brisk walking training could enhance the ANS tone and could improve the parasympathetic/sympathetic balance in nursing home elderly. This effect would be potentialized by VNS.

Practicing Tai Chi had lower energy metabolism than walking but similar health benefits in terms of aerobic fitness, resting energy expenditure, body composition and self-perceived physical health

ObjectiveTo examine the effects of Tai Chi and walking training on aerobic fitness, resting energy expenditure (REE), body composition, and quality of life; as well as analyzing the energy metabolism during exercises, to determine which one had better advantage in improving health status. MethodsThree hundred seventy-four middle-aged Chinese subjects who were recruited from nine geographic areas in Sha Tin were randomized into Tai Chi, walking, or control groups at area level. The 12-week (45min per day, 5days per week) Tai Chi or brisk walking training were conducted in respective intervention groups. Measures were performed at baseline and end of trial. Another 30 subjects were recruited to compare the energy metabolism between practicing Tai Chi and walking. ResultsThe between-group difference of VO2max was 3.3ml/min/kg for Tai Chi vs. control and 3.7ml/min/kg for walking vs. control (both P<0.001). BMI, skinfold thicknesses, and SF-12 physical component scores all improved significantly compared with the control group (all P<0.01). Tai Chi had higher effect on improving REE-VO2 and REE-kilocalorie expenditure than walking. Regarding to energy metabolism test, the self-paced walking produced approximately 46% higher metabolic costs than Tai Chi. ConclusionPracticing Tai Chi consumes a smaller amount of energy metabolism but similar health benefits as self-paced brisk walking.

Self‐guided brisk walking training with or without poles: a randomized‐controlled trial in middle‐aged women

Walking with poles (Nordic walking, NW) has become popular. We compared training responses of brisk walking (W) or NW on cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular fitness. We randomized 121 non-obese sedentary women (aged 50-60) to an NW or W group (NWG, WG), to train 40 min four times weekly for 13 weeks. Intensity was based on subjective perception of exertion. Cardiorespiratory performance was assessed in four levels corresponding to 50%, 65%, 80% and 100% of peak VO(2). Fifty-four NWG and 53 WG subjects completed the study. The mean intensity was about 50% of heart rate (HR) reserve. The baseline peak VO(2) was 25.8 (SD 3.9) mL/min/kg. Both groups improved peak VO(2) similarly (NWG 2.5 mL/min/kg, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9-3.3; WG 2.6, CI 1.9-3.3). In the submaximal stages while walking with or without poles, HR and lactate decreased after training in both groups, but the changes were not statistically significantly different between the groups. Of the neuromuscular tests after training, the only significant difference between the groups was in the leg strength in the one-leg squat, favoring WG. In conclusion, both training modes improved similarly health-enhancing physical fitness, and they were feasible and safe.

Tai Chi versus brisk walking in elderly women

to compare the effects of a short style of Tai Chi versus brisk walking training programme on aerobic capacity, heart rate variability (HRV), strength, flexibility, balance, psychological status and quality of life in elderly women. nineteen community-dwelling, sedentary women (aged 71.4 +/- 4.5 years) were randomly assigned to Tai Chi Chuan (TCC; n = 11) or brisk walking group (BWG; n = 8). A separate group of elderly women was recruited from the same population to act as a sedentary comparison group (SCG; n = 8). The exercise groups met for 1 h, three days per week for 12 weeks. Outcomes measured before and after training included estimated VO2max, spectral analysis of HRV (high-frequency, low-frequency power as well as high- and low-frequency power in normalised units) as a measure of autonomic control of the heart, isometric knee extension and handgrip muscle strength, single-leg stance time, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Profile of Mood States (POMS) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaires. significant improvement was seen in estimated VO(2)max in the TCC group (TCC versus SCG P = 0.003, TCC versus BWG P = 0.08). The mean within-person change of high-frequency power in normalised units (HFnu) increased [8.2 (0.14-16.3)], representing increased parasympathetic activity, and low-frequency power in normalised units (LFnu) decreased [-8.7 (-16.8-0.5)], representing decreased sympathetic activity, in the TCC group only. Significant gains were also seen in the non-dominant knee extensor strength and single-leg stance time (TCC versus BWG P < 0.05). a short style of TCC was found to be an effective way to improve many fitness measures in elderly women over a 3-month period. TCC was also found to be significantly better than brisk walking in enhancing certain measures of fitness including lower extremity strength, balance and flexibility.