Department of Wushu, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
Department of Foreign Languages, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
J Integr Complement Med. 2024 Feb;30(2):121-132. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2022.0682. Epub 2023 Sep 11.
Tai Chi, originating in China, is a mind-body exercise that integrates mind training, Qi training, and body training. While Tai Chi practice has demonstrated beneficial physical and psychological health benefits, how it achieves effects has been less studied. In recent years, some researchers have begun to explore the potential of heart rate variability (HRV) changes as balancing the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to achieve results, but only a few studies have directly tested how Tai Chi impacts HRV, and results have been mixed. This study systematically evaluates the effects of Tai Chi on HRV. Electronic databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and EBSCOhost direct from inception until December 2020 were searched to obtain eligible studies. The primary outcomes examined were HRV parameters (time domain and frequency domain), and secondary analysis was whether breathing was emphasized during Tai Chi interventions. Based on the 11 randomized controlled trials included comparing Tai Chi with non-active control condition, meta-analyses showed significantly beneficial effects on HRV parameters (low-frequency power [LF], mean difference [MD] = -200.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 365.31 to -35.49, = 0.02; normalized low-frequency power [nLF], MD = -7.39, 95% CI: -12.48 to -2.29, = 0.004; total power [TP], MD = -649.82, 95% CI: -1180.54 to -119.11, = 0.02; very low-frequency power [VLF], MD = -200.55, 95% CI: -349.63 to -51.46, = 0.008; root mean square of the square sum of the difference between adjacent normal heartbeat intervals [RMSSD], MD = 2.59, 95% CI: -7.23 to 12.41, < 0.0001; standard deviation of the heartbeat interval [SDNN], MD = 8.33, 95% CI: 0.69 to 15.98, = 0.03). The effect of Tai Chi on certain HRV parameters compared with active control conditions was less favorable (nLF, MD = 6.42, 95% CI: 3.74 to 9.09, < 0.00001; normalized high-frequency power [nHF], MD: -6.13, 95% CI: -8.76 to -3.50, < 0.00001; low-frequency/high-frequency power ratio [LF/HF], MD = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.68 to 1.33, < 0.00001). In addition, studies describing an emphasis on breathing in the Tai Chi intervention showed positive impact on HRV (nLF, MD = -3.22, 95% CI: -5.32 to -1.12, = 0.003; nHF, MD = 3.80, 95% CI: 0.80 to 6.81, = 0.01; SDNN, MD = 5.55, 95% CI: 4.85 to 6.25, < 0.00001). Meta-analysis results showed that Tai Chi compared with non-active control conditions has a positive impact on key HRV parameters associated with the ANS balance. However, active control condition comparisons showed greater HRV improvements than for Tai Chi. Considering the limited number of studies and their heterogeneity, further robust studies are necessary to verify findings and investigate differential effects of Tai Chi on HRV.
太极拳，源自中国，是一种身心合一的运动，融合了意念训练、气功训练和身体训练。虽然太极拳练习对身心健康有有益的影响，但它是如何实现这些效果的还研究较少。近年来，一些研究人员开始探索心率变异性（HRV）变化作为平衡自主神经系统（ANS）的潜在效果，但只有少数研究直接测试了太极拳对 HRV 的影响，结果参差不齐。本研究系统评价了太极拳对 HRV 的影响。通过电子数据库，包括 Web of Science、PubMed、Scopus、Cochrane Library 和 EBSCOhost，从成立之初到 2020 年 12 月，搜索了符合条件的研究。主要观察指标为 HRV 参数（时域和频域），次要分析是否在太极拳干预中强调呼吸。基于 11 项比较太极拳与非活动对照组的随机对照试验，荟萃分析显示 HRV 参数有显著的有益影响（低频功率[LF]，MD=-200.40，95%置信区间[CI]：365.31 至-35.49， = 0.02；归一化低频功率[nLF]，MD=-7.39，95%CI：-12.48 至-2.29， = 0.004；总功率[TP]，MD=-649.82，95%CI：-1180.54 至-119.11， = 0.02；极低频功率[VLF]，MD=-200.55，95%CI：-349.63 至-51.46， = 0.008；相邻正常心跳间期差值的均方根[RMSSD]，MD=2.59，95%CI：-7.23 至 12.41， < 0.0001；心跳间期标准差[SDNN]，MD=8.33，95%CI：0.69 至 15.98， = 0.03）。与活动对照组相比，太极拳对某些 HRV 参数的影响不太有利（nLF，MD=6.42，95%CI：3.74 至 9.09， < 0.00001；归一化高频功率[nHF]，MD：-6.13，95%CI：-8.76 至-3.50， < 0.00001；低频/高频功率比[LF/HF]，MD=1.00，95%CI：0.68 至 1.33， < 0.00001）。此外，描述太极拳干预中强调呼吸的研究显示对 HRV 有积极影响（nLF，MD=-3.22，95%CI：-5.32 至-1.12， = 0.003；nHF，MD=3.80，95%CI：0.80 至 6.81， = 0.01；SDNN，MD=5.55，95%CI：4.85 至 6.25， < 0.00001）。荟萃分析结果表明，与非活动对照组相比，太极拳对与自主神经系统平衡相关的关键 HRV 参数有积极影响。然而，与太极拳相比，活动对照组的 HRV 改善更大。考虑到研究数量有限且存在异质性，需要进一步进行稳健的研究来验证结果，并探讨太极拳对 HRV 的差异影响。
