Taijiquan Exercise Research Articles

Effects of 14-Week Tai Ji Quan Exercise on Metabolic Control in Women with Type 2 Diabetes

The present study investigated the effects of 14 weeks of practicing Tai Ji Quan (TJQ) on metabolic control and lipid metabolism in women with type 2 diabetes. Twenty Beijing female residents (57.4 +/- 6.2 years) were recruited and were randomly assigned to either the TJQ training or the control group. In the TJQ group, the exercise duration was 1 hour per day and 5 days a week for 14 weeks. FPG, GSP, FPI, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, resting blood pressures and heart rate were measured before and after the 14 weeks in the 2 groups. It was found that after 14 weeks, the TJQ group had significantly lower FPG, GSP, TG and higher FPI concentration, whereas there were no significant differences in TC, HDL-C and LDL-C. It was concluded that TJQ exercise could be used as an intervention tool to improve glycaemic control and serum TG level in the elderly people. Future research with TJQ of different styles and exercise of different intensities were recommended.

Effects of Taijiquan on the Physical Fitness of Elderly Chinese People

We evaluated the efficacy of an 1-hour Taijiquan daily exercise for maintaining and improving the physical fitness of elderly Chinese people in an urban area of China. They had practiced Taijiquan in the park every morning for many years. Thirty subjects (male: n=10, average age 74.4 ± 3.2 years; female: n=20, average age 73.4 ± 4.4 years) participated in the study. Measures of physical fitness were taken immediately before and after the Taijiquan exercise. In both male and female groups, the results for tests consisting of standing on one leg with eyes open, grip strength, functional reach, 10-m walking speed, finger-floor distance, and standing on one leg while swinging the other leg were significantly improved. Results for standing on one leg with eyes closed, did not show a significant change. These results suggest that a 1-hour Taijiquan session can improve physical fitness in terms of static and dynamic balance, muscular strength, coordination, walking ability and flexibility in elderly individuals who have practiced Taijiquan over a long period of time. Thus, Taijiquan could help elderly individuals to maintain and improve their health and their ability to perform daily activities.

Physiological benefits of 24-style Taijiquan exercise in middle-aged women.

This study examined the physiological benefits of 24-style Taijiquan (24TJQ) exercises by comparing heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), exercise intensity, electroencephalograph, surface electromyography and surface thermograph, as well as the results of physical fitness test in 20 middle-aged women (10 skilled participants and 10 novices). The data from the skilled participants showed greater values in sit-ups (p<0.01), side step (p<0.01) and stand trunk flexion (p<0.05), moreover, the statistic data demonstrated not only greater HR (p<0.05) or lower RR during exercise, but also higher beta%-power during the experiment, higher alpha%-power in the eye-closed period and central alpha dominant after exercise. These results suggest that 24TJQ is effective to promote physiological benefits in middle-aged women. It attracts strong interest and is helpful to induce psychological relaxation and mental concentration.