Physiological measuring method of exercise effect of qigong

Author: Machi Y//Yamamoto M
Affiliation: Tokyo Denki Univ., Faculty Engineering, Tokyo, Japan [1]//Japan Qigong Association, Japan [2]
Conference/Journal: 6th Int Sym on Qigong
Date published: 1996
Other: Pages: 89-95 , Special Notes: Also in Japanese with tables and figures , Word Count: 239


Students of qigong want to know how they are improving, They are interested in the differences between students and well trained qigong masters.

We have analyzed a lot of physiological data of qigong masters and students. Physiological measurements such as brain waves show well the qigong condition. However, the measurement gives the subject some weak pain and also a negative psychological effect, especially for the beginner.

We found two simple measuring methods which are applicable to evaluate the level of qigong: One was a ratio based on the heart rate of the subject under qigong conditions and normal conditions with his eyes closed. The other was the delay time between the R wave of the subjects heart beat measured on his chest using a wireless transmitter and the R wave measured on his finger under normal conditions and qigong conditions. The pulse rate ratio method shows a higher value for well trained persons and a low value for beginners. But, the method shows a little scatter of data depending on the persons. However, we found the delay time method denoted a relatively simple relation compared to the pulse rate ratio method. In this method, there is a small fluctuation but this is less than by the other method.

We examined these methods for both internal qigong (standing posture qigong) and external qigong. We can apply a rough relationship to evaluate the training effects in the first order of approximation.