The acute effect of taichiquan exercise on autonomic cardiac activity using heart rate variability analysis Author: Nen Janne S Date published: 1998 Other: Word Count: 295 This study was done in a co-operation with Kuopio University Hospital, Department of Clinical Physiology, and Shanghai Normal University (Teachers' University), Department of Physiology. 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.