Sit, breathe, smile: Effects of single and weekly seated Qigong on blood pressure and quality of life in long-term care.

Author: Freeman SR1, Hanik SA2, Littlejohn ML3, Malandruccolo AA4, Coughlin J5, Warren B6, McGowan CL7.
Affiliation:
1Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4. Electronic address: freemans@uwindsor.ca. 2Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4. Electronic address: hanik@uwindsor.ca. 3Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4. Electronic address: littlejm@uwindsor.ca. 4Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4. Electronic address: malandru@uwindsor.ca. 5School of Dramatic Art, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4. Electronic address: coughli1@uwindsor.ca. 6School of Dramatic Art, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4; Schlegel-University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging, 325 Max Becker Dr., Suite 202, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2E 4H5. Electronic address: merv123@uwindsor.ca. 7Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4; Schlegel-University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging, 325 Max Becker Dr., Suite 202, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2E 4H5. Electronic address: mcgowanc@uwindsor.ca.
Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Clin Pract.
Date published: 2014 Feb
Other: Volume ID: 20 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 48-53 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2013.10.004 , Word Count: 155


Abstract
Long-term care (LTC) facilities house individuals with diverse combinations of cognitive and physical impairments, and the practice of Seated Qigong eliminates common exercise barriers. This study hypothesized: 1) a single session would lower blood pressure (BP) and improve quality of life (QOL) in a generalized LTC population, and 2) these responses would be attenuated with chronic (weekly) Seated Qigong practice. Ten residents (6 female; 86 ± 7 years) participated in 1X/week Seated Qigong sessions for 10-weeks. BP and QOL were assessed pre- and post-session at baseline and following 5- and 10-weeks of Qigong. Systolic BP was significantly reduced immediately post-session after 10-weeks of Qigong (P = 0.03), yet unchanged at baseline and after 5-weeks (all P > 0.05). Diastolic BP and QOL remained unchanged (P > 0.05). A session of Seated Qigong elicits a hypotensive response with exposure, supporting the notion that repeated sessions may provide advantageous health benefits.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Blood pressure, Qigong, Quality of life

PMID: 24439645

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