Adhering to a Tai Chi Chuan Exercise Program Improves Vascular Resistance and Cardiac Function

SummaryBackgroundCardiac function is an important predictor for life expectancy in elderly subjects. Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is a generalized tolerable exercise for the aged population. The current study evaluated the effects of TCC on the vascular compliance and resistance as well as cardiac function of a general healthy elderly population.Materials and methodsA total of 122 consecutive subjects were enrolled from the general population. Yang style TCC was practiced three times a week for 1hour each session for a duration of 5 months. Subjects were categorized as “adherents” (n=33) if they participated in >48 (80%) sessions, or as “non-adherents” (n=34). Biochemistry data, including fasting glucose, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, were recorded before and after the 5-month intervention. Hemodynamic variables, including vascular compliance, resistance, cardiac output, stroke volume, and left ventricular ejection fraction, were obtained before and after the program using a Dynapulse 200M monitor.ResultsSerum triglyceride levels declined after TCC practice (the changes in triglycerides were −3.12 mg/dL and 18.8 mg/dL for the adherent and non-adherent groups, respectively; p=0.03). Significant differences between the adherent and non-adherent groups existed in left ventricular contractility, cardiac output, cardiac index, stroke volume, and brachial artery compliance (p<0.01; p=0.01; p<0.01; p