The Effects of Tai Chi on Cardiovascular Risk in Women

Abstract

Purpose This study examined the effects of tai chi (TC) on biobehavioral factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in women. Design A randomized trial used a wait-list control group, pretest-posttest design. Data were collected immediately before, immediately after, and 2 months following the intervention. Setting The study was community based in central Virginia. Subjects Women aged 35 to 50 years at increased risk for CVD. Intervention The 8-week intervention built on prior work and was designed to impact biobehavioral factors associated with CVD risk in women. Measures Biological measures included fasting glucose, insulin, and lipids as well as C-reactive protein and cytokines. Behavioral measures included fatigue, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, social support, mindfulness, self-compassion, and spiritual thoughts and behaviors. Analysis A mixed effects linear model was used to test for differences between groups across time. Results In 63 women, TC was shown to decrease fatigue (∂ [difference in group means] =9.38, p = .001) and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (∂ = 12.61, p = .052). Consistent with the study model and intervention design, significant changes observed 2 months post intervention indicated that TC may help down-regulate proinflammatory cytokines associated with underlying CVD risk, including interferon gamma (∂=149.90, p =.002), tumor necrosis factor (∂=16.78, p =.002), interleukin (IL) 8 (∂=6.47, p =.026), and IL-4 (∂=2.13, p =.001), and may increase mindfulness (∂ = .54, p = .021), spiritual thoughts and behaviors (∂ = 8.30, p = .009), and self-compassion (∂ = .44, p = .045). Conclusion This study contributes important insights into the potential benefits and mechanisms of TC and, with further research, may ultimately lead to effective strategies for reducing CVD risk in women earlier in the CVD trajectory.

Effects of T'ai Chi on Chronic Systemic Inflammation

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][8][9][10][11] Among these 9 studies, 3 were conducted in middle-aged or older cancer survivors, 3,4,6,9 4 studies were conducted in other subgroups of older adults (healthy older adults, and older adults with insomnia, depression, or mild cognitive impairment), 2,5,8,11 1 study was conducted in HIV-infected adults, 1 and 1 study was conducted in women with elevated cardiovascular disease risk. 10 All studies, except for 1, 10 included an active control group that received health education, cognitive behavioral therapy, or other interventions. The terms ranged from 3 weeks to 6 months, and the doses varied as the duration ranged from 1 to 2 h and the frequency ranged from one time per week to three times per week.…”

“…Among 26 articles, 13 articles met the inclusion criteria. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] There were two sets of articles that describe the same studies. 3,4,7,8 The authors combined the two articles for one study, 3,4 and included one article for the other study.…”

Psychometric Evaluation of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Fatigue-Short Form Across Diverse Populations

“…Detailed information on the design and methods of four of the studies can be found in the original reports (Ameringer et al, 2014; Jallo, Ruiz, Elswick, & French, 2014; Menzies et al, 2014; Robins et al, 2015). One study examined fatigue in fibromyalgia (FMS) (Menzies et al, 2014), another in sickle cell disease (SCD) (Ameringer et al, 2014), a third in cardiometabolic risk (CMR) (Robins et al, 2015), and a fourth in pregnancy (Jallo et al, 2014). In the fifth study, fatigue was examined in healthy controls and women with breast cancer; here, data from the healthy control subsample were used to examine known groups validity only.…”

“…In cardio-metabolic risk and cardiac disease, the pathophysiology may be attributable to alterations of insulin action, such as insulin resistance and the low-grade inflammatory state, due in part to cytokines produced by the excessive adipose tissue (Kaltsas, Vgontzas, & Chrousos, 2010). It is postulated that perceived stress and depressive symptoms contribute to fatigue and weight gain, which increases cardio-metabolic risk and, ultimately, cardiovascular disease (Robins, Elswick, Sturgill, & McCain, 2015). During pregnancy, the pathogenesis of fatigue is likely related to physiologic changes such as increased oxygen consumption, cardiovascular changes, metabolic effects, as well hormones such as progesterone (Poole, 1986).…”

Práctica de taichí y nivel de estrés en adultos mayores en un centro de atención de medicina complementaria

“…Algunos estudios han sugerido que su práctica mejora los niveles de ansiedad (13) , presión arterial y riesgo cardiovascular (14) así como el dolor/ discapacidad en enfermedades músculo-esqueléticas como la osteoartritis (15,16) . Así, el objetivo de este estudio es evaluar los grados de estrés en adultos mayores de 60 años que practican regularmente taichí en comparación a quienes no lo realizan, en un establecimiento de salud de la ciudad de Trujillo, durante el año 2014.…”