The effects of Tai Chi training on physical fitness, perceived health, and blood pressure in elderly Vietnamese

Figures & data

Table 1 Characteristics of the study sample

Characteristics	Mean ± SD (min–max)		Number (%)
Age (year)	68.97 ± 5.11 (60–79)
BMI (kg/m^2)	24.28 ± 1.10 (21.30–27.56)
WHR (cm)	0.94 ± 0.05 (0.82–1.27)
Sex
Male			48 (50)
Female			48 (50)
Marital status
Living with other			24 (25)
Married			53 (55.2)
Widowed			13 (13.5)
Single			1 (1.0)
Not disclosed			5 (5.2)
Education (years)
5–9			24 (25)
10–12			45 (49.6)
>12			27 (28.1)
	N
	Tai Chi group		Control group
Number of participants			48
Male	24		24
Female	24		24
	Mean	SD	Mean	SD
Age	69.23	5.30	68.73	4.95
Height (m)	1.58	0.06	1.59	0.06
Weight (kg)	60.76	4.78	62.42	5.82
BMI (kg/m^2)	24.14	1.38	24.42	0.71
WHR (cm)	0.94	0.06	0.95	0.03

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; SD, standard deviation; WHR, waist–hip ratio.

Table 2 Comparisons of variables between Tai Chi and Control groups at baseline

Dependent variables	Mean ± SD		Significance*
	Tai Chi (n = 48)	Control (n = 48)
BMI (kg/m^2)	24.14 ± 1.38	24.42 ± 0.71	0.213
WHR (cm)	0.93 ± 0.064	0.95 ± 0.033	0.202
Systole (mmHg)	145.42 ± 10.21	147.40 ± 8.32	0.301
Diastole (mmHg)	81.48 ± 6.23	82.19 ± 5.18	0.547
Pulse (bpm)	84.48 ± 6.24	83.08 ± 4.46	0.211
Chair stand (stands)	16.31 ± 2.74	16.33 ± 2.56	0.969
Arm curl (times)	16.92 ± 2.54	16.62 ± 2.39	0.564
2-minute step (steps)	88.12 ± 8.53	85.75 ± 6.96	0.139
Chair sit reach (cm)	−1.10 ± 5.68	−1.25 ± 5.73	0.901
Back scratch (cm)	−2.23 ± 4.25	−1.69 ± 4.45	0.544
8 foot up and go (second)	6.98 ± 0.85	7.16 ± 0.67	0.231
PCS (scale)	51.81 ± 23.28	48.23 ± 23.86	0.458
MCS (scale)	52.19 ± 18.77	49.65 ± 20.34	0.526
SF-36 total (scale)	52.31 ± 22.42	48.69 ± 23.40	0.442

Note:

* Determined by ANOVA.

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; WHR, waist–hip ratio; MCS, mental component summary; PCS, physical component summary; SF-36, Short Form-36; bpm, beats per minute.

Table 3 Comparisons of variables between Tai Chi and Control groups at endtest

Dependent variables	Mean ± SD		Difference	Significance
	Tai Chi (n = 39)	Control (n = 34)
BMI (kg/m^2)	23.22 ± 1.24	24.45 ± 0.76	−1.23	0.000*
WHR (cm)	0.91 ± 0.05	0.95 ± 0.02	−0.04	0.001*
Systole (mmHg)	134.51 ± 4.96	146.51 ± 6.54	−12	0.000†
Diastole (mmHg)	80.95 ± 3.63	82.41 ± 3.84	−1.46	0.093
Pulse (bpm)	76.72 ± 3.23	82.86 ± 3.20	−6.14	0.000*
Chair stand (stands)	20.26 ± 2.39	16.00 ± 2.11	4.26	0.000*
Arm curl (times)	20.69 ± 2.46	16.41 ± 2.13	4.28	0.000*
2-minute step (steps)	91.62 ± 6.28	84.50 ± 5.59	7.12	0.000*
Chair sit reach (cm)	3.67 ± 3.23	−0.65 ± 4.66	4.32	0.000†
Back scratch (cm)	3.10 ± 2.68	−1.74 ± 3.80	4.84	0.000*
8 foot up and go (second)	6.11 ± 0.71	7.22 ± 0.62	−1.11	0.000*
PCS (scale)	80.31 ± 6.85	47.32 ± 24.51	32.99	0.000†
MCS (scale)	76.36 ± 5.76	49.53 ± 20.52	26.83	0.000†
SF-36 total (scale)	80.18 ± 6.56	47.97 ± 24.52	32.21	0.000†

Notes:

* Student’s t-test;

† Mann–Whitney test.

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; WHR, waist–hip ratio; MCS, mental component summary; PCS, physical component summary; SF-36, Short Form-36; bpm, beats per minute.

Table 4 Comparisons of variables between endtest and follow-up of the Tai Chi group

Dependent variables	Mean (SD)		Difference	Ra	Significance
	Endtest (n = 39)	Follow-up (n = 14)
BMI (kg/m^2)	23.22 (1.24)	23.40 (1.24)	−0.18	0.97	1.73
WHR (cm)	0.91 (0.05)	0.93 (0.06)	−0.02	0.97	1.24
Systole (mmHg)	134.51 (4.96)	135.50 (5.50)	−0.99	0.98	3.97
Diastole (mmHg)	80.95 (3.63)	80.21 (3.76)	0.74	0.98	5.41
Pulse (bpm)	76.72 (3.23)	78.29 (2.33)	−1.57	0.98	1.39
Chair stand (stands)	20.26 (2.39)	20.14 (2.24)	0.12	0.89	3.40
Arm curl (times)	20.69 (2.46)	20.00 (1.96)	0.69	0.88	1.38
2-minute step (steps)	91.62 (6.28)	91.14 (7.22)	0.48	0.96	2.41
Chair sit reach (cm)	3.67 (3.23)	4.07 (3.95)	−0.4	0.08	0.60
Back scratch (cm)	3.10 (2.68)	2.64 (3.00)	0.46	0.05	0.13
8 foot up and go (s)	6.11 (0.71)	6.08 (0.64)	0.03	0.89	3.46
PCS (scale)	80.31 (6.85)	81.07 (5.78)	−0.67	0.95	1.49
MCS (scale)	76.36 (5.76)	77.43 (4.45)	−1.07	0.96	3.75
SF-36 total (scale)	80.18 (6.56)	81.36 (5.19)	−1.18	0.96	4.41

Notes:

a Determined by Pearson regression (calculated by mean and difference presented in the Bland–Altman plots in Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6).

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; WHR, waist–hip ratio; MCS, mental component summary; PCS, physical component summary; SF-36, Short Form-36; bpm, beats per minute.

Figure 1 Differences between endtest and follow-up periods for BMI, WHR, and blood pressure of the Tai Chi group.

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; WHR, waist–hip ratio.

Figure 2 Mean BMI, WHR, and blood pressure of the Tai Chi and Control groups at three test times.

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; CT, Control group; TC, Tai Chi group; WHR, waist–hip ratio.

Figure 3 Differences between endtest and follow-up periods for senior fitness test (lower and upper strength) of the Tai Chi group.

Figure 4 Mean SFT of the Tai Chi and Control groups at three test times.

Abbreviations: CT, Control group; SFT, Senior Fitness Test; TC, Tai Chi group.

Figure 5 Differences between endtest and follow-up periods for SFT (lower-upper flexibility and dynamic balance) of the Tai Chi group.

Abbreviation: SFT, Senior Fitness Test.

Figure 6 Differences between endtest and follow-up periods for SF-36 (PCS, MCS, and SF-36 total) for Tai Chi group.

Abbreviations: MCS, mental component summary; PCS, physical component summary; SF-36, Short Form-36.

Figure 7 Mean SF-36 of the Tai Chi and Control groups at three test times.

Abbreviations: CT, Control group; MCS, mental component summary; PCS, physical component summary; TC, Tai Chi group.