Effect of Qigong exercise on cognitive function, blood pressure and cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy middle-aged subjects.
Author: Ladawan S1, Klarod K2, Philippe M3, Menz V3, Versen I3, Gatterer H3, Burtscher M4
Affiliation:
1Department of Sport Science, Medical Section, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria; Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand.
2Department of Sport Science, Medical Section, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria; Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Burapha University, Chon Buri 20130, Thailand.
3Department of Sport Science, Medical Section, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria.
4Department of Sport Science, Medical Section, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria. Electronic address: Martin.Burtscher@uibk.ac.at.
Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Med.
Date published: 2017 Aug
Other:
Volume ID: 33 , Pages: 39-45 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.05.005. Epub 2017 Jun 13. , Word Count: 208
OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of Qigong exercise on cognitive function, blood pressure and cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy middle-aged subjects.
METHODS: Study part 1 examined the effects of Qigong exercise in 12 subjects (5 males, 7 females, aged 52.2±7.1years) who performed Qigong for 8 weeks (60min sessions, 3 times/week). Study part 2 evaluated the detraining effects 12 weeks after cessation of Qigong. Cognitive function (Digit Span Forward and Backward Test, Trail Making Tests part A and B), blood pressure, and exercise performance were determined at baseline, immediately after the training programme, and after the detraining period.
RESULTS: Qigong exercise showed a significant improvement of Trail Making Tests part A (p=0.04), systolic blood pressure (p=0.001), diastolic blood pressure (p=0.005), mean arterial pressure (p<0.001), and maximal workload (p=0.032). Twelve weeks after cessation, Trail Making Tests part A, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and maximal workload had returned to baseline (p=0.050, 0.007, 0.001, 0.001, and 0.017, compared to after the training, respectively).
CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Qigong exercise effectively improved attention, brain processing speed, blood pressure and maximal workload. However, these improvements disappeared 12 weeks after cessation of Qigong. Consequently, performing Qigong regularly is important to maintain related health effects.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: Blood pressure; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Cognitive function; Qigong
PMID: 28735824 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.05.005
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