Preliminary study on the cardiac functional potential evoked by qigong exercise

In order to probe into the effect of the qigong exercise in excitation of the cardiac functional potentials, and in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases we have observed the physiological effect of the heart function influenced by the qigong exercise 30 days before and after practice and measured the physiological loading intensity and the thermal effect of acupoints during the exercise with a PWC170 function test. The subjects were divided into two groups. The qigong group included 60 healthy people by an average age of 40.5 years, the control group consisted of 20 healthy people who were undergoing craunotherapy. Their average age was 36.4. The experimental results are as follows:

1. PWC170 function test We measured the PWC170 value of the qigong group who exercised Shaolin Neijin Yizichan qigong 30 days before and after practice. The exercise done twice a day, 54 minutes for each. The control group's PWC value was measured 30 days before and after the craunotherapy. The subjects were given two different loading, 3 minutes for each with an interval of 3 minutes. At 2.5 minutes the measure of the heart rate was done for half minute. Then the PWC170 value and VO22 max. was calculated. The result indicated the finished power of the qigong group was raised by 574.94 kg.m/min. after the qigong exercise while the control group only increased by 83.75 kg m/min. (P<0.05). The qigong group's VO2 max. increased by 0.97L/ min. after the exercise, whereas the control group's by 0.14L/min. (P<0.05) . It shows that the qigong exercise has a marked effect on excitation of the cardiac functional potential.

2. The physiological loading intensity We measured the resting state heart rate before the qigong exercise and the recovery heart rate 10 minutes after the exercise with a PV-701 WRIST-WANTCH-STYLE PULSE MONITOR. The heart rate during the exercise (lasting for 54 minutes) was measured every two minutes. The resting state heart rate was 73.4 per minute before the exercise, the average rate was 94.3 per min. and the highest rate was 124.4/per min. During the exercise the recovery rate was 82.7/per min. after the exercise. These results tell us that the qigong exercise is a kind of light endurable loading exercise, its physiological loading intensity does not exceed 50% of the maximum intaking oxygen. It is a small amount of exercise suitable for the patients of heart trouble.

3. The thermal effect of acupoints We measured the change of the skin temperature of the middle fingertip, Laogong (P 8), Yintang (Extra), Baihui (Du 20) and Sanginjiao (Sp 6) before and after the exercise with a semiconductor point thermometer. Here is the result. There was a very significant change of temperature at Laogong (P 8) before and after the exercise (P(0.01), the average temperature increasing by 1.3°C; temperature on Baihui(Du 20) increased by 1°C; temperature on the middle fingertip and Yintang (Extra 1) increased by 0.7°C and 0.8°C respectively; temperature oh Sanginjiao (Sp 6) decreased by 0.1°C. The increase of skin temperature of acupoints shows that the qigong exercise can promote blood circulation and expand the capillary.

According to the above tests we can conclude:
1. The qigong exercise can excite the cardiac functional potential, PWG170 function test is a measurement for the quantitative exercise tolerance test of the heart function. PWG170 value is depended on the heart volume, and people who have a larger volume gained higher power,
which increased by 148% after the exercise than before. It shows that the qigong exercise can bring cardiac reserve into full play, increasing the cardiac systole and diastole volume, and enhancing the heart muscle contractive power.

2. When those who did the exercise bore a smaller physiological loading intensity, their heart rate is 128% of that in the resting state, helpful to lighten the burden of the heart and decrease the myocardial oxygen consumption. This exercise is advisable for the weak old people and for those having chronic diseases, especially heart trouble.

3. The acupoint thermal effect was markedly seen during the exercise. The increase of acupoint skin temperature is helpful to increase the excitability of the muscle and nervous system and to heighten metabolism and cardiovascular function.