Evaluation of Tai-Chi-Chuan as exercise training for the elderly

• Published in: Research Journal of JAPEW Vol. 2008; no. 24; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Abe, Ayako, Sasamoto, Shigeko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Japan Association of Physical Education for Women 2008; 公益社団法人 日本女子体育連盟
• Subjects: Amylase activity; POMS; salivary secretory immunoglobulin A; Tai-Chi-Chuan
• ISSN: 1882-0980; 2185-3401
• DOI: 10.11206/japew2003.2008.1

We investigated whether Tai-Chi-Chuan is appropriate exercise training for the elderly by measur-ing salivary secretory immunogloblin A as the immunological indicator, amylase activity as the stress indica-tor, and subjective mood change using the profile of mood states (POMS).Methods: Subjects were 3males aged 67.7±0.6and19females aged70.1±19who had practiced Tai-chi-Chuan once a week.In order to investigate a short term effect of Tai-Chi-Chuan training, we measured amylase activity and POMS to com-pare before and after Tai-Chi-Chuan practice.In addition, as a long term effect of Tai-Chi-Chuan training, we compared the resting SIgA level between2005and2007.Results: There was no significant difference in amy-lase activity between before (44.67±7.70ku/l) and after (53.06±7.95ku/l).The resting saliva flow rate (ml/min) was significantly lower for2007 (1.53±0.2ml/min) than for 2005 (1.85±0.2ml/min), and resting SIgA concentration (mg/ml) was significantly higher for 2007 (77.93±8.3_g/ml) than for2005 (54.53±8.0_g/ml).The SIgA secretion rate (mg/min) tended to be higher for2007 (110.49±16.9_g/min) than2005 (96.16±17.0 g/min);however, there was no significant difference between both. Conclusion: These results suggest that long term Tai-Chi-Chuan practice might improve or increase the immune system in the elderly, and that a single session of Tai-Chi-Chuan practice also has mood-elevation effects.Therefore, Tai-Chi-Chuan would be appropriate exercise training for the elderly.