The acute effect of taichiquan exercise on autonomic cardiac activity using heart rate variability analysis

This study was done in a co-operation with Kuopio
University Hospital, Department of Clinical
Physiology, and Shanghai Normal University (Teachers'
University), Department of Physiology. Material of the
study was a total of 29 men's heart rate variability
analysis which were performed using ambulatory ECG
recordings. The measurements were done in Shanghai
during the autumn of 1996 and spring of 1997. These 29
men formed two age groups: young and old. Heart rate
variability analysis was assessed from three different
activity situations: at rest in supine and sitting
positions and during taichiquan exercise (two
different exercises). This study concentrated on
supine position measurements but cardiovascular stress
was assessed also with other activity measurements.

The aim of this study was to investigate intentional
physical activation's (taichiquan exercises) effect on
autonomic cardiac activity using heart rate
variability analysis. The cardiovascular stress during
taichiquan and its safety issues were also
investigated. To find the physiological basis for
larger studies was also one purpose of this study.
Heart rate variability was found to be a good
indicator of taichiquan's effect on autonomic nervous
function, e.g. on sympathetic or parasympathetic
activity at certain moment.

It was noticed that even a short five minutes
taichiquan exercise increased clearly heart rate
variability in both groups. This was indicated by both
time- and frequency domain parameters. According to
these findings it improved the regulatory capacity of
cardiovascular system at least temporarily. The
increase of the heart rate variability was greater in
youngs's group. However, only in old's group the heart
rate was also decreased a little after sequential
taichiquan exercises. These effects indicate that
parasympathetic activity became more powerful after
sequential taichiquan exercises in both test groups.
The cardiovascular stress of taichiquan exercises used
in this study was light and those exercises are safe
for almost everyone.