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Effect of Tai Chi on Cardiac and Static Pulmonary Function in Older Community-Dwelling Adults at Risk of Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effect of tai chi exercise on cardiac and static lung function for older community-dwelling adults at risk of ischemic stroke.

Methods

A total of 170 older community-dwelling adults (aged 55–75 years old) at risk of ischemic stroke were allocated to either tai chi training group (85 cases, five 60-min sessions of tai chi training per week for 12 weeks) or control group (85 cases, usual pbysical activity for 12 weeks) using a computer-generated randomization. The echocardiographic parameters of cardiac structure, cardiac function and static lung function were measured at baseline, after 12 weeks of intervention and additional 12-week follow-up period by a blinded professional staffmember using a color Doppler ultrasound imaging device or a cardiopulmonary function instrument. The t test and linear mixed model based on the intentionto-treat analysis principle was used to calculate the effect. The adverse effect was observed.

Results

Most of echocardiographic parameters on the cardiac structure, cardiac function and static lung function between the tai chi group and control group did not have a significant difference either post 12-week intervention or additional 12-week follow-up period. Only three parameters involving in right ventricular diameter (P=0.024), main pulmonary artery diameter (P=0.002) and vital capacity maximum (P=0.036) were beneficial to be improved in the tai chi group compared to the control group by the analysis of mixed linear model. No adverse effects were found during the intervention period.

Conclusion

The 12-week tai chi exercise did not have an obvious beneficial effect on cardiac structure, cardiac function and static lung function in older community-dwelling adults at risk of ischemic stroke. The study with a longer duration of intervention should be necessary. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-13003601)

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Acknowledgements

We thank the participants and staff in the communities and hospitals, including the Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Subsidiary Rehabilitation Hospital and Health Check Center of the Second People's Hospital of Fujian Province, for their work in this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Nursing and Health Management, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201318, China

    Guo-hua Zheng

  2. College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China

    Xin Zheng & Jun-zhe Li

  3. Department of Physical Education, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China

    Ting-jin Duan

  4. Fujian Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China

    Jing Tao

  5. Collaborative Innovation Center for Rehabilitation Technology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China

    Li-dian Chen

Authors
  1. Guo-hua Zheng
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  2. Xin Zheng
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  3. Jun-zhe Li
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  4. Ting-jin Duan
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  5. Jing Tao
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  6. Li-dian Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li-dian Chen.

Additional information

Supported by the Study of Traditional Chinese Mind-Body Exercise (No. X2012002-Cooperation) and the Social Development Guidance Project of Fujian Province (No. 2014Y0031)

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Zheng, Gh., Zheng, X., Li, Jz. et al. Effect of Tai Chi on Cardiac and Static Pulmonary Function in Older Community-Dwelling Adults at Risk of Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 25, 582–589 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-018-3056-5

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