Author: Wong A1, Figueroa A2, Sanchez-Gonzalez MA3, Son WM4, Chernykh O5, Park SY4,6
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>1 Department of Health and Human Performance, Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia, USA.
<sup>2</sup>2 Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
<sup>3</sup>3 Division of Clinical & Translational Research, Larkin Community Hospital South Miami, Florida, USA.
<sup>4</sup>4 Department of Physical Education, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.
<sup>5</sup>5 Department of Philosophy, Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University, Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Region, Russia.
<sup>6</sup>6 The School of Health and Kinesiology, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182.
Conference/Journal: J Aging Phys Act.
Date published: 2017 Jun 28
Other:
Volume ID: 1-26 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1123/japa.2017-0038. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 156
The present study examined the effects of a 12-week Tai Chi (TC) training regimen on heart rate variability (HRV), symptomatology, muscle fitness and body composition in women with fibromyalgia. Participants were randomly assigned to either a TC training group (n=18) or a control group (n=19). HRV, symptomatology, muscle fitness and body composition were measured before and after 12 weeks. There were significant decreases (P<0.05) in sympathovagal balance (LnLF/LnHF), sympathetic tone (LnLF, nLF), pain, fatigue and significant increases (P<0.05) in parasympathetic tone (LnHF, nHF), strength and flexibility following TC compared with no changes after control. The changes in LnLF and LnLF/LnHF were correlated with changes in pain. There were no significant changes in HR, sleep quality and body composition after TC or control. TC may be an effective therapeutic intervention for improving sympathovagal balance, pain, fatigue, strength and flexibility in women with fibromyalgia.
KEYWORDS: fatigue; flexibility; pain; strength; sympathovagal balance
PMID: 28657825 DOI: 10.1123/japa.2017-0038