Improving levels of participation in physical activity remains an important objective in our society. Despite definitive evidence that regular involvement in moderate-intensity exercise provides innumerable health benefits, statistics indicate that less than 25% of adult Americans engage in that level of physical activity on a regular basis. And, senior citizens are the least active of all age groups. Hence, providing alternative forms of exercise modalities, in an effort to stimulate and promote expanded participation in physical activity, especially among older adults, is a critical health consideration. The primary purpose of the study was to explore whether a group of eight qigong exercises, derived from Chinese medical qigong, provided a similar moderate-intensity level of physical activity to that of traditional brisk walking for a group of older adults, age 55 to 79 years (mean: 64.2 years). A secondary purpose was to compare mood values, or psychological affect, between the two exercise conditions using the Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Results for physiological factors measured indicated significant main effects for time for heart rate, breath frequency, pulse rate, rating of perceived exertion, and diastolic blood pressure. These results demonstrated that for both walking and qigong, participants experienced similar work loads. Similarly, no significant difference was found between condition for either positive affect or negative affect. There was a significant interaction of condition by time for heart rate which indicated that heart rate increased more rapidly for the walking condition, however, as exercise continued, variation of heart rate values between conditions lessened. The results of this investigation suggest that, for this age group, these qigong exercises provide a moderate-intensity level of activity similar to that of a brisk walk at a pace of 2.5 to 4 mph. In addition, the exercises also provided comparable psychological benefits in mood improvement as those derived from walking. Therefore, qigong exercises can be considered an alternate moderate-intensity exercise form for individuals who might prefer this activity, who may be interested in a variety of exercise modalities, or who might be unable to walk for a sustained length of time.

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.

The Chinese concept of Qi Energy is not easily translated into western thought or language. It has been defined as 'vital energy', 'air, breath or steam energy', 'life force', and 'living essence'. Qi is all of these and none of them. "It is that which differentiates life from death, inanimate from animate. To live is to have Qi in every part of your body. To die is to be a body without Qi. For health to be maintained, there must be a balance of Qi, neither too much nor too little" (Eisenberg, 1995, p.43). Most people are not aware of Qi energy, either within them or in the external environment, since it is considered the most fundamental element, it operates at the root of our experience (Fenton, 1996). People are also unaware of the existence of Qi because the energy is so perfectly balanced, likened to an isometric exercise where two equal forces opposing each other give the impression of nothing happening (Thurnell-Read, 1995). According to the experience of those who can feel and 'manipulate' Qi energy for healing or other purposes, "Qi can be best explained as a type of energy very much like electricity, which flows through the human or animal body" (Yang, 1998, p. 9). When this circulation of electricity-like energy becomes blocked or unbalanced, the individual or animal will become ill and if the flow is not restored, will die (Thurnell-Read, 1995; Yang, 1998). One of the roles Qi plays in the human body involves the communication and the provision of information to cells and between cells, beyond the information supplied through the nerves and the hormonal system (Thurnell-Read, 1995). Qi 'flows' through the body via channels or meridians that connect all parts of the body. These meridians have been outlined, described, and manipulated by Chinese health practitioners for thousands of years (Gao, 1997), and are not identified structures known to Western medicine (Eisenberg, 1995). These meridians contain ''gates' or points along their paths where the manipulation of Qi flow within the meridian is especially effective. By manipulating these gates or points, one can control the flow of Qi energy along the meridian by opening a blocked meridian, blocking the flow of Qi, or introducing external Qi into the body. These points, referred to as acupuncture or pressure points, are used by acupuncturists who attempt to balance Qi flow in the body by inserting tiny needles into the meridians, enhancing Qi flow. These same points are also used by Shiatsu specialists, akin to massage therapists in the West, to manipulate Qi energy flow in certain meridians by moving and manipulating the deep tissues and muscles surrounding the meridians. The masters of Shiatsu, it is said, "do not merely sense and redirect the flow of Qi; they transmit it from their own bodies into their patient's body by way of the appropriate meridian" (Eisenberg, 1995, p. 112). It is important to note that these same acupuncture, or pressure points, can be used to disrupt Qi energy flow along a meridian and cause harm to the body. As a result, traditionally, martial artists attacked these pressure points to defeat their opponents. As a result of these acupuncture meridians, there is no part of the body that does not contain Qi energy. A Blockage or disruption in any of these meridians results in the improper flow of Qi Energy throughout the body, and stagnation of Qi. If balance is not attained, then the normal physiological functioning of the body becomes impaired, allowing ever-present illness and disease (in the form of pathogens) to take hold over the weakened body (truncated abstract).

The art of Taiji, like other Chinese healing arts, is a holistic practice based on a philosophy that integrates mind, body, and spirit. Recognizing the synergy of mixed method studies, both quantitative and qualitative methods of analyses were employed to examine effects of a 6-month Taiji and Qigong intervention on healthy older adults. The quantitative study employed traditional methods to investigate the effect of Taiji practice on fall-related balance behaviors. A randomized controlled clinical trial was designed with two groups Wait Control (WC) and Taiji/Qigong (TQ) using single blinded testers. Performance at baseline was compared with two months and at the termination of the intervention at six months. To capture the subjective experiences of participants so as to construct a broader and deeper understanding of the meanings they attributed to their experience with Taiji, a qualitative study was also performed via interview with eight TQ subjects. The results of the quantitative study suggest that a 2-month Taiji intervention on healthy older adults yielded improvement in balance, lower body strength, and appropriate adaptive responses in situations of inaccurate or conflicting sensory stimuli. Taiji practitioners also adopted significantly wider stance widths than their control group counterparts. The adoption of a wider stance may be one mechanism contributing to the observed improvements in functional balance. The qualitative study selected intervention participants who, in their own opinion, derived significant benefit from this study. We found that all of them began with physical ailments and concerns, and all experienced clear physical gains. They all experienced benefits in at least three other dimensions across a five-dimensional (physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual) model. All reported a significantly enhanced, integrated mind-body connection, significant positive psychological effects, and integrated mind/body/spirit experiences. We concluded that, for select participants, Taiji appears to produce multidimensional positive effects that are holistic and integrative in nature. The overall results from the two methodologies yield convergent results suggesting that two months of specific Taiji/Qigong curriculum practice can yield both a measured and perceived reversal in the decline of physical function due to age. Yang Yang can be contacted at yangyangtaiji@qmail.com