Author: Zou L^1,², Zhang Y³, Sasaki JE⁴, Yeung AS⁵, Yang L^6,⁷, Loprinzi PD⁸, Sun J⁹, Liu S¹⁰, Yu JJ¹¹, Sun S¹², Mai Y¹³
Affiliation: 1Faculty of Athletic Training, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou 510500, China. liyezou123@gmail.com. 2Lifestyle (Mind-Body Movement) Research Center, College of Sports Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China. liyezou123@gmail.com. 3Health and Exercise Science Laboratory, Institute of Sports Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea. elite_zhangyj@163.com. 4Department of Sport Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG 38025-440, Brazil. jeffersasaki@gmail.com. 5Depression Clinical and Research Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. ayeung@mgh.harvard.edu. 6Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB T2S 3G3, Canada. lin.yang@ahs.ca. 7Departments of Oncology and Community Health Sciences, Cunning School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada. lin.yang@ahs.ca. 8Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management School of Applied Sciences, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 36877, USA. pdloprin@olemiss.edu. 9Faculty of Athletic Training, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou 510500, China. sjian@vip.sohu.com. 10Department of Physical Education, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China. liushijie0411@whut.edu.cn. 11Sports and Exercise Psychology Laboratory, Department of Sports, Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. yujie@cuhk.edu.hk. 12Institute of Physical Education, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, China. sysun@zjhu.edu.cn. 13College of Chinese Martial Arts, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou 510500, China. MAIYQ1973@163.com.
Conference/Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health.
Date published: 2019 Apr 18
Other: Volume ID: 16 , Issue ID: 8 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3390/ijerph16081396. , Word Count: 235

Background: The improvement of living standards has led to increases in the prevalence of hypokinetic diseases. In particular, multifactorial complex diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, are becoming more prevalent. Currently, developing effective methods to combat or prevent metabolic syndrome is of critical public health importance. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to evaluate the existing literature regarding the effects of Wuqinxi exercise on reducing risk factors related to metabolic syndrome. Methods: Both English- and Chinese-language databases were searched for randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of Wuqinxi on these outcomes. Meanwhile, we extracted usable data for computing pooled effect size estimates, along with the random-effects model. Results: The synthesized results showed positive effects of Wuqinxi exercise on systolic blood pressure (SBP, SMD = 0.62, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.85, p < 0.001, I2 = 24.06%), diastolic blood pressure (DBP, SMD = 0.62, 95% CI 0.22 to 1.00, p < 0.001, I2 = 61.28%), total plasma cholesterol (TC, SMD = 0.88, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.36, p < 0.001, I2 = 78.71%), triglyceride (TG, SMD = 0.87, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.24, p < 0.001, I2 = 67.22%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, SMD = 1.24, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.72, p < 0.001, I2 = 78.27%), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL, SMD = 0.95, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.46, p < 0.001, I2 = 82.27%). In addition, regression results showed that longer-duration Wuqinxi intervention significantly improved DBP (β = 0.00016, Q = 5.72, df = 1, p = 0.02), TC (β = -0.00010, Q = 9.03, df = 1, p = 0.01), TG (β = 0.00012, Q = 6.23, df = 1, p = 0.01), and LDL (β = 0.00011, Q = 5.52, df = 1, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Wuqinxi may be an effective intervention to alleviate the cardiovascular disease risk factors of metabolic syndrome.

KEYWORDS: Qigong; exercise; metabolic syndrome; mind–body exercise; risk factor

PMID: 31003412 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16081396

Wuqinxi Qigong as an Alternative Exercise for Improving Risk Factors Associated with Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.