Tai Chi Research » Blood Pressure

Study finds tai chi improved sleep stability in individuals with chronic heart failure.

David Bendall — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:52:39 +0000

Researchers at Harvard Medical School analyzed ECG data from 18 patients with chronic heart failure, 8 of whom were randomly assigned to receive 12 weeks of tai chi training while the rest were assigned to a control group. Both groups also receive conventional care. The ECG data showed significant differences between the two groups with the tai chi group having signs of increased sleep stability with correlations between improved sleep stability and improved quality of life. The researchers conclude that tai chi may enhance sleep stability in patients with chronic heart failure and that this may have beneficial impacts on blood pressure, arrhythmogenesis and quality of life.

Abstract

Tai chi found to significantly reduce the risk of falls among older adults.

David Bendall — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:47:51 +0000

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta GA carried out a study designed to evaluate the effects of tai chi and computerized balance training on frailty and risk of falls. 200 people aged 70+ were divided between a tai chi group, a computerized balance group and a control group. Each intervention lasted 15 weeks. The tai chi group had a significantly reduced risk of falls and fear of falling compared with the control group while the computerized balance training group did not have significantly lower rates of falls. Furthermore there were favorable changes in biomedical and psychosocial measures of frailty in the tai chi group, including lowered blood pressure before and after a 12-minute walk and increased lower extremity range of motion.

Abstract

Effects of tai chi and metabolic syndrome and glycemic control

David Bendall — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:30:17 +0000

In this pilot study at the Unversity of Queensland, Australia in 2008, 11 adults with elevated blood glucose attended tai chi and chi gung (qigong) classes 3 times per week for 12 weeks.

Study Indicators

Seven indicators of metabolic syndrome were tracked before and after the participants practiced Tai Chi:

Body mass index
Waist circumference
Blood pressure
Fasting blood glucose
Triglycerides
HDL-cholesterol, and
Indicators of glucose control – A1C, fasting insulin and insulin resistance

Results

There were significant improvements in body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure. There were also improvements in HbA1c, fasting insulin and insulin resistance.

View Abstract.