Practicing Tai Chi had lower energy metabolism than walking but similar health benefits in terms of aerobic fitness, resting energy expenditure, body composition and self-perceived physical health.
Author: Hui SS1, Xie YJ2, Woo J3, Kwok TC4
Affiliation:
1Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: hui2162@cuhk.edu.hk.
2School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: grace.yj.xie@polyu.edu.hk.
3Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: jeanwoowong@cuhk.edu.hk.
4Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: tkwok@cuhk.edu.hk.
Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Med.
Date published: 2016 Aug
Other:
Volume ID: 27 , Pages: 43-50 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2016.05.006. Epub 2016 May 20. , Word Count: 232
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of Tai Chi and walking training on aerobic fitness, resting energy expenditure (REE), body composition, and quality of life; as well as analyzing the energy metabolism during exercises, to determine which one had better advantage in improving health status.
METHODS: Three hundred seventy-four middle-aged Chinese subjects who were recruited from nine geographic areas in Sha Tin were randomized into Tai Chi, walking, or control groups at area level. The 12-week (45min per day, 5days per week) Tai Chi or brisk walking training were conducted in respective intervention groups. Measures were performed at baseline and end of trial. Another 30 subjects were recruited to compare the energy metabolism between practicing Tai Chi and walking.
RESULTS: The between-group difference of VO2max was 3.3ml/min/kg for Tai Chi vs. control and 3.7ml/min/kg for walking vs. control (both P<0.001). BMI, skinfold thicknesses, and SF-12 physical component scores all improved significantly compared with the control group (all P<0.01). Tai Chi had higher effect on improving REE-VO2 and REE-kilocalorie expenditure than walking. Regarding to energy metabolism test, the self-paced walking produced approximately 46% higher metabolic costs than Tai Chi.
CONCLUSION: Practicing Tai Chi consumes a smaller amount of energy metabolism but similar health benefits as self-paced brisk walking.
Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
KEYWORDS: Body composition; Clinical trial; Mind-body exercise; Physical activity; SF-12; VO(2)max
PMID: 27515875 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2016.05.006
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