Author: Qing-Hua Hu1,2, You-Ling Qian3, Xiao-Li Liu1,2, Huan Zhu1,2, Jie-Wen Xiao1,2
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Institution of Sports of Hubei Nationalities College, EnShi 445000.
<sup>2</sup> Enshi State Taijiquan Amateur Association, EnShi 445000.
<sup>3</sup> Sports Department of Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China.
Conference/Journal: Zhongguo Ying Yong Sheng Li Xue Za Zhi
Date published: 2021 Nov 1
Other:
Volume ID: 37 , Issue ID: 6 , Pages: 683-687 , Special Notes: doi: 10.12047/j.cjap.6164.2021.080. , Word Count: 323
Objective: To study the effects of 12-week Taijiquan exercise on the microvascular reactivity of middle-aged and elderly patients with mild hypertension and to explore the mechanisms of microvascular reactivity. Methods: Thirty patients with mild hypertension were divided into exercise group (53.8±6.3 years old) and control group (52.6±7.5 years old). The number and gender ratio of the two groups were the same. The exercise group performed Tai Chi exercise for 12 weeks, and the control group maintained the original lifestyle and did not do other regular sports. The two groups of subjects were tested for microvascular reactivity, blood pressure, serum nitric oxide content, and nitric oxide synthase activity before exercise intervention, 6th week and 12th week, respectively. Results: There was no significant difference in the basic values of each index between the two groups of subjects before the test (P＞ 0.05). In the 6th week, the microvascular reactivity (blood flow increase rate), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, nitric oxide content, nitric oxide synthase activity of the exercise group did not significantly change from the basic value (P＞0.05). At the 12th week, the microvascular reactivity, nitric oxide content, c nitric oxide synthase activity were significantly higher than those of the base values and the control group (P＜0.05), but the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower than those of the base values and control group (P＜0.05). In the control group, there were no significant changes in the 6th and 12th week values of each index from the basic value (P＞0.05). Conclusion: Twelve weeks of Taijiquan exercise can improve the microvascular reactivity of middle-aged hypertensive patients, reduce blood pressure, and increase the nitric oxide content and c nitric oxide synthase of patients. The increase of endogenous nitric oxide production is one of the biological mechanisms of Tai Chi exercise to improve the microvascular responsiveness of hypertension patients.
Keywords: Tai Chi; microvascular reactivity; middle-aged and elderly; mild hypertension; nitric oxide; nitric oxide synthase.
PMID: 34821106 DOI: 10.12047/j.cjap.6164.2021.080