The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Tai-Chi exercise on bioenergy and cardiac autonomic nervous level of the elderly. 20 male elders (10 were regular Tai-Chi exercise elders, mean age 65.5 yrs and 10 were sedentary life-style elders, mean age 65.6 yrs) were recruited as subjects. Meridian Energy Analysis Device and Polar Vantage NV Heart Rate Recorder were used to measure the resting bioenergy of 12 meridians and cardiac R-R intervals duration. Independent t-test was used to analyze the data, and the significant level was set at 0.05. Results showed that: 1. Regular Tai-Chi exercise elders had significant higher bioenergy than sedentary life-style elders, especially in the heart meridian and lung meridian (p<.001); 2. Regular Tai-Chi exercise elders had significant higher level of cardiac parasympathetic nervous activities (p<.05) and significant lower level of cardiac sympathetic nervous activities (p<.05) than sedentary life-style elders. The conclusion of this study was Tai-Chi exercise has positive effects on improving bioenergy and decreasing cardiac physiological loading of the elderly. Therefore, if the elders could participate in Tai-Chi exercise regularly, it would be beneficial for them to improve or maintain bioenergy and cardiac autonomic nervous functions.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Tai-Chi exercise on bioenergy and cardiac autonomic nervous level of the elderly. 20 male elders (10 were regular Tai-Chi exercise elders, mean age 65.5 yrs and 10 were sedentary life-style elders, mean age 65.6 yrs) were recruited as subjects. Meridian Energy Analysis Device and Polar Vantage NV Heart Rate Recorder were used to measure the resting bioenergy of 12 meridians and cardiac R-R intervals duration. Independent t-test was used to analyze the data, and the significant level was set at 0.05. Results showed that: 1. Regular Tai-Chi exercise elders had significant higher bioenergy than sedentary life-style elders, especially in the heart meridian and lung meridian (p<.001); 2. Regular Tai-Chi exercise elders had significant higher level of cardiac parasympathetic nervous activities (p<.05) and significant lower level of cardiac sympathetic nervous activities (p<.05) than sedentary life-style elders. The conclusion of this study was Tai-Chi exercise has positive effects on improving bioenergy and decreasing cardiac physiological loading of the elderly. Therefore, if the elders could participate in Tai-Chi exercise regularly, it would be beneficial for them to improve or maintain bioenergy and cardiac autonomic nervous functions.