Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs > v.39(1) > 1002512

Song, Ahn, So, Park, Kim, Joo, and Kim: Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Quality of Life in Post-menopausal Women

Abstract

Purpose:

Natural menopause resulting in the decline in endogenous estrogen concentrations is responsible for an increased risk of coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a 6-month Tai Chi exercise program on cardiovascular risk factors and quality of life in post-menopausal women.

Methods:

A quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest measures was used. The participants in the study, 29 women in the Tai Chi group and 31 in the control group, were enrolled for 6 months.

Results:

After 6 months of Tai Chi exercise, total cholesterol (M=213 to 185), LDL-cholesterol (M=135 to 128), and their 10 yr cardiovascular disease risk (M=2.62 to 2.27) had improved significantly for the Tai Chi participants compared to the control group. Total scores for quality of life along with the sub-dimensions of health perception and mental functioning were also significantly higher in the Tai Chi participants.

Conclusion:

Tai Chi exercise favorably affected cardiovascular health and quality of life in post-menopausal women after 6 months. Additional rigorous studies are needed to examine long term effects on the prevention of cardiovascular disease in this population.

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Table 1.
General Characteristics of Participants
Characteristics Tai Chi (n=29) Control (n=31) t or 2 p
Mean (SD) or n (%) Mean (SD) or n (%)
Age (yr) 58.59 (4.62) 61.00 (5.60) −1.81 .075
Education (yr) 8.86 (4.36) 8.94 (3.68) −0.71 .944
Income (1,000 won/month) 153.0 (102.3) 169.3 (136.3) −0.52 .603
Number of pregnancies 4.72 (2.20) 4.27 (2.18) 0.80 .426
Number of deliveries 2.69 (0.71) 2.60 (1.43) 0.30 .763
Marital status/living status Married/ with family 28 (96.6) 22 (71.0) 7.66 .022
Widowed/ with family 1 (3.4) 3 (9.7)
Single/ living alone 0 (0) 6 (19.4)
Employment Not employed 26 (89.7) 27 (87.1) 0.09 .758
Employed 3 (10.3) 4 (12.9)
Exercise habit 3-4 times/week 20 (69.0) 20 (64.5) 1.73 .629
1-2 times/week 5 (17.2) 6 (19.4)
Never 4 (13.8) 5 (16.1)
Smoking habit None 27 (93.1) 30 (96.8) 0.42 .514
Indirect exposure 2 (6.9) 1 (3.2)
Family history of cardiovascular No 15 (51.7) 16 (51.6) 0.00 .993
disease Yes 14 (48.3) 15 (48.4)
Chronic disease None 10 (34.5) 10 (32.3) 1.43 .697
Hypertension 7 (24.1) 5 (16.1)
Diabetes 1 (3.4) 3 (9.7)
Others 11 (37.9) 13 (41.9)
Perceived stress Low 15 (51.7) 21 (67.7) 1.68 .431
Moderate 9 (31.0) 7 (22.6)
High 5 (17.2) 3 (9.7)
Perceived health compared with similar age group Similar Worse 9 (31.0) 9 (29.0) 0.60 .741
18 (62.1) 18 (58.1)
Better 2 (6.9) 4 (12.9)
Table 2.
Homogeneity Test of Study Variables at the Baseline
Variables Tai Chi (n=29) Control (n=31) t p
Mean (SD) Mean (SD)
10-yr CVD risk (%)* 9.55 (4.71) 10.06 (5.13) −0.40 .689
Cardiovascular risk factors
Systolic BP (mmHg) 1 126.79 (14.59) 126.35 (18.64) 0.10 .920
Body mass index (kg/m2) 24.69 (2.91) 25.0 9 (2.37) −0.59 .555
Total cholesterol (mg/dL) 213.6 (37.27) 217.0 (48.90) −0.29 .770
Triglyceride (mg/dL) 114.5 (43.24) 132.7 (53.43) −1.44 .154
HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 46.55 (9.18) 46.00 (8.92) 0.23 .814
LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 135.0 (29.03) 137.4 (42.54) −0.25 .797
Glucose (mg/dL) 92.83 (12.97) 95.52 (11.31) −0.85 .395
Quality of life 27.38 (10.72) 29.68 (13.31) −0.73 .467
Pain 35.00 (27.06) 32.10 (25.62) 0.42 .671
PF-daily activities 10.34 (11.49) 9.07 (10.56) 0.44 .657
PF-housework 15.34 (14.01) 20.00 (20.70) −1.01 .315
Mobility 18.86 (11.88) 19.15 (13.52) −0.09 .929
Leisure/social activities 21.35 (16.09) 31.92 (21.31) −2.15 .035
Health perception 53.16 (19.97) 51.61 (25.77) 0.25 .797
Mental functioning 41.19 (15.49) 43.37 (16.72) −0.52 .603

*Scores are calculated based on Framingham heart study for 10-yr risk in percent (%).

BP=blood pressure; HDL=high density lipoprotein; LDL=low density lipoprotein; CVD=cardiovascular disease; PF=physical functioning.

Table 3.
Group Comparisons on Cardiovascular Risk Factors at the Posttest
Variables Tai Chi (n=29) Control (n=31) F* p
Mean (SD) Mean (SD)
10-yr CVD risk (%) 9.1 (4.38) 12.56 (7.04) 8.86 .004
Cardiovascular risk factors
Systolic BP (mmHg) 126.7 (16.56) 128.6 (20.35) 0.34 .560
Body mass index (kg/m2) 24.81 (2.94) 25.45 (2.45) 2.78 .101
Total cholesterol (mg/dL) 185.5 (31.36) 204.5 (42.57) 6.49 .014
Triglyceride (mg/dL) 113.1 (41.80) 148.8 (64.25) 4.10 .047
HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 42.93 (7.39) 42.94 (12.36) 0.05 .821
LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 128.7 (31.82) 144.5 (41.54) 4.88 .031
Glucose (mg/dL) 86.76 (12.11) 88.42 (15.41) 0.03 .857

*F score is from Analysis of Covariance with pretest scores as covariates. BP=blood pressure; HDL=high density lipoprotein; LDL=low density lipoprotein; CVD=cardiovascular disease.

Table 4.
Group Comparisons on Quality of Life and Sub-dimensions at the Posttest
Variables Tai Chi (n=29) Control (n=31) F* p
Mean (SD) Mean (SD)
Quality of life 24.98 (10.14) 28.78 (9.73) 5.97 .018
Pain 26.37 (20.34) 30.64 (24.72) 3.25 .076
PF-daily activities 11.21 (9.93) 10.48 (15.08) 0.32 .573
PF-housework 13.79 (14.91) 20.00 (21.90) 1.34 .251
Mobility 16.70 (13.15) 18.04 (13.87) 0.19 .664
Leisure/social activities 24.89 (15.41) 29.64 (17.68) 0.27 .605
Health perception 46.55 (21.18) 54.83 (24.03) 5.53 .022
Mental functioning 35.63 (14.66) 42.83 (12.74) 5.28 .025

* F score is from Analysis of Covariance with pretest scores as covariates.

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