The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2013 Aug;20(4):613-9. doi: 10.1177/2047487312443483. Epub 2012 Apr 4.
Aerobic exercise can alleviate the declines in arterial compliance common in older adults. However, when combined with strength training, aerobic exercise may not reduce arterial compliance. Tai Chi practice has been found to improve muscle strength and cardiopulmonary function in older subjects, but whether or not it improves arterial compliance is not known. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether Tai Chi practitioners have better arterial compliance and muscle strength.
Twenty-nine older Tai Chi practitioners (73.7 ± 4.5 years) and 36 healthy control subjects (71.4 ± 6.6 years) participated in this cross-sectional study.
The participants were independent in their daily living activities. They were screened for apparent cardiovascular disease and underwent arterial compliance testing and isokinetic knee muscle strength testing at 30°/s.
Tai Chi practitioners showed significantly better haemodynamic parameters than the controls as indexed by larger and small artery compliance. They also demonstrated greater eccentric muscle strength in both knee extensors and flexors.
The findings of better muscle strength without jeopardizing arterial compliance suggests that Tai Chi could be a suitable exercise for older persons to improve both cardiovascular function and muscle strength.
有氧运动可以缓解老年人常见的动脉顺应性下降。然而，当与力量训练结合时，有氧运动可能不会降低动脉顺应性。太极拳练习已被发现可以提高老年受试者的肌肉力量和心肺功能，但它是否能提高动脉顺应性尚不清楚。本研究的主要目的是探讨太极拳练习者是否具有更好的动脉顺应性和肌肉力量。
29 名年龄较大的太极拳练习者（73.7±4.5 岁）和 36 名健康对照组（71.4±6.6 岁）参加了这项横断面研究。
参与者在日常生活中能够自理。他们接受了明显心血管疾病的筛查，并进行了动脉顺应性测试和 30°/s 的等速膝关节肌肉力量测试。
太极拳练习者的血流动力学参数明显优于对照组，表现为大动脉顺应性和小动脉顺应性均较大。他们还表现出更强的膝关节伸肌和屈肌的离心肌肉力量。
在不影响动脉顺应性的情况下，肌肉力量更好的发现表明，太极拳可能是老年人改善心血管功能和肌肉力量的一种合适的运动方式。
