Author: Lee Myeong Soo//Huh Hwa Jeong//Kim Byung Gi//Ryu Hoon////
Affiliation: Department of Qi-Medicine, Institute of Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, 570-749, Korea
Conference/Journal: Am J Chin Med
Date published: 2002
Other:
Volume ID: 30 , Issue ID: 4 , Pages: 463-470 , Word Count: 117
This study investigates changes in autonomic nervous function through Qi-training. The power spectrum of heart rate variability (HRV) was examined in 20 sedentary healthy subjects and 20 Qi-trainees. It was found that Qi-training in healthy young subjects during controlled respiration increases the high frequency (HF) power and decreases the low frequency / high frequency (LF/HF) power ratio of HRV. These results support the hypothesis that Qi-training increases cardiac parasympathetic tone. In addition, Qi-trainees were found to have higher parasympathetic heart modulation compared with their age-matched, sedentary counterparts. This augmented HRV in Qi-trainees provides further support for long-term Qi-training as a possible non-pharmacological cardio-protective maneuver. In conclusion, Qi-training may stabilize the autonomic nervous system by modulating the parasympathetic nervous system.