ABSTRACT
Introduction
Tai Chi Softball fully reflects the most complete and coherent concept of Tai Chi exercise, round and smooth, natural and continuous, and is very suitable for the daily exercise of middle-aged and elderly people.
Objective
Explore the effect of Tai Chi Softball exercise on body shape and bone mineral density of middle-aged and elderly women.
Methods
45 volunteers were recruited and divided into a Tai Chi Softball group and a control group; the Tai Chi Softball group was guided by professional trainers to perform Tai Chi Softball exercises for six months. The control group did not perform Tai Chi Softball exercises and tested various physical indicators for comparison.
Results
The weight and BMI of middle-aged and elderly women showed a decreasing trend. The abdominal and arm skinfold measurements were significantly different from those before the experiment (P < 0.01). Body fat percentage decreased significantly, and muscle weight increased, showing statistical significance (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Tai Chi Softball exercise can alleviate the rapid decline in bone mineral density and bone mineral content in middle-aged and elderly women. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.
Tai Ji; Human Body; Bone Mineral Density
RESUMO
Introdução
O Tai Chi Softball reflete integralmente o conceito mais completo e coerente do exercício de Tai Chi, redondo e suave, natural e contínuo, sendo muito adequado para o exercício diário de pessoas de meia-idade e idosas.
Objetivo
Explorar o efeito do exercício de Tai Chi Soft Ball na composição corporal e densidade mineral óssea de mulheres de meia-idade e idosas.
Métodos
45 voluntários foram recrutados e divididos em um grupo de Tai Chi Softball e um grupo de controle, o grupo de Tai Chi Softball foi orientado por treinadores profissionais para realizar exercícios de Tai Chi Softball por 6 meses. O grupo de controle não realizou o exercício de Tai Chi Softball, e testou vários indicadores físicos para comparação.
Resultados
O peso e o IMC das mulheres de meia-idade e idosas mostraram uma tendência decrescente. Entre elas, as medidas de dobra cutânea do abdômen e braço foram significativamente diferentes daquelas anteriores à experiência (P < 0,01). O percentual de gordura corporal diminuiu significativamente e o peso muscular aumentou, apresentando significância estatística (P<0,05).
Conclusão
O exercício de Tai Chi Softball pode aliviar o rápido declínio da densidade mineral óssea e do conteúdo mineral ósseo em mulheres de meia-idade e idosas. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.
Tai Ji; Corpo Humano; Densidade Mineral Óssea
RESUMEN
Introducción
El Tai Chi Softball refleja plenamente el concepto más completo y coherente del ejercicio de Tai Chi, redondo y suave, natural y continuo, y es muy adecuado para el ejercicio diario de las personas de mediana edad y mayores.
Objetivo
Explorar el efecto del ejercicio de Tai Chi Softball sobre la composición corporal y la densidad mineral ósea de mujeres de mediana edad y mayores.
Métodos
Se reclutaron 45 voluntarias y se dividieron en un grupo de Tai Chi Softball y un grupo de control, el grupo de Tai Chi Softball fue guiado por entrenadores profesionales para realizar ejercicios de Tai Chi Softball durante 6 meses. El grupo de control no realizó el ejercicio, y se sometió a varios indicadores físicos para su comparación.
Resultados
El peso y el IMC de las mujeres de mediana edad y de edad avanzada mostraron una tendencia a la baja. Entre ellos, las medidas de los pliegues cutáneos abdominales y del brazo fueron significativamente diferentes de las anteriores al experimento (P < 0,01). El porcentaje de grasa corporal disminuyó significativamente y el peso muscular aumentó, mostrando significancia estadística (P < 0,05).
Conclusión
El ejercicio de Tai Chi Softball puede aliviar el rápido descenso de la densidad mineral ósea y del contenido mineral óseo en mujeres de mediana edad y mayores. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.
Tai Ji; Cuerpo Humano; Densidad Mineral Ósea
INTRODUCTION
Tai Chi softball is a popular sport that has emerged in recent years, Taichi softball is a new sport that combines badminton, tennis and other balls with Tai Chi and dance, it shows the flexibility and coordination of the ball, the softness of Tai Chi and the graceful dance of individual, pair or group sports, the form of its movement is characterized by an arc, which is carried out in the shape of the body, coronal plane, and transverse plane.11. Yang GY, Sabag A, Hao WL, Zhang LN, Bensoussan A. Tai chi for health and well-being: a bibliometric analysis of published clinical studies between 2010 and 2020. Complement Ther Med. 2021;60(1):102748. It has the characteristics of performance, fitness, competition, and strong participation, which contains the theory of yin and yang of Chinese medicine. Mainly by holding a special racket, using the techniques of receiving, holding, attracting, throwing and throwing the ball, so that the body can be exercised.22. Solianik R, Mickeviien D, Libinait L, Ekanauskait A. Tai chi improves psychoemotional state, cognition, and motor learning in older adults during the covid-19 pandemic. Exp Gerontol. 2021;150(1):111363. This sport integrates fitness, entertainment, performance and competition. At present, domestic scholars are in the preliminary stage of scientific research on Tai Chi Softball. Hu, F. et al. analyzed the current situation, age structure, gender ratio, motivation, time, practice frequency, location and main factors restricting the development of softball in middle-aged and elderly people practicing Taiji softball, and find corresponding countermeasures and solutions, in order to provide relevant departments with a comprehensive understanding of Tai Chi softball, the development status of the elderly in the city, the formulation of relevant policies and regulations, and the better promotion and popularization of the sport, providing reference and reference.33. Hu F, Li T. An origami flexiball-inspired metamaterial actuator and its in-pipe robot prototype. Actuators. 2021;10(4):67.
METHOD
Research object
Recruit 45 middle-aged and elderly female volunteers aged 45-65 in a community elderly activity center in A city, A province. Divided into Tai Chi softball group (25 people) and control group (20 people) as subjects. Tai Chi soft ball group is guided by professional coaches to perform Tai Chi soft ball exercise. Continue to exercise for 6 months, 4 times a week, each exercise for 2 hours (15 minutes for preparation, 90 minutes for continuous training, and 15 minutes for finishing and relaxation). The control group did not perform Tai Chi soft ball exercise and maintained the original living state.44. Cross R. Oblique impact of a hard ball on a soft surface. Eur J Phys. 2021;42(6):065005. , 55. Liu D, Yi L, Sheng M, Wang G, Zou Y. The efficacy of tai chi and qigong exercises on blood pressure and blood levels of nitric oxide and endothelin-1 in patients with essential hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020(1):1-24.
Research methods
Exercise method: Tai Chi soft ball group is guided by professional coaches, perform 6-month Tai Chi softball routines 1-4, each exercise for 2 hours (15 minutes for preparation, 90 minutes for exercise, and 15 minutes for finishing and relaxation). The control group did not exercise and maintained the original living state.66. Kim AR, Shim YJ. The effects of aerobic exercise capacity on body composition, arterial stiffness, and total body bone mineral density of middle-aged women. Korean J Sport Sci. 2020;29(1):755-62.
Test indicators: Body shape indicators: Height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio. Body composition indicators: (abdomen, upper arms, shoulder blades) skinfold thickness, body fat percentage, fat mass, muscle mass. Bone mineral density indicators: BMD of the whole body, upper limbs, thighs, trunk, and spine.77. Hamilton BR, Staines KA, Kelley GA, Kelley KS, Kohrt WM, Pitsiladis Y, et al. The effects of exercise on bone mineral density in men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Calcif Tissue Int. 2022;110(1):41-56.
SPS statistical software was used to analyze and process the experimental data, and the results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation, in the same group, paired-sample T-test was used, and in different groups, independent-sample T-test was used for statistical processing. P<0.05 was considered significant difference, and P<0.01 was considered very significant difference.
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
The effect of 6-month Tai Chi softball exercise on the body shape of middle-aged and elderly women
As shown in Table 1 , after 6 months of Tai Chi softball practice, the weight and BMI of middle-aged and elderly women showed a significant downward trend. Waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio did not change significantly, but they all showed a downward trend. Before and after the experiment, the weight, BMI index, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio of the control group increased significantly, showing a very significant difference (P<0.01). After the experiment, compared with the control group, the body weight and BMI of the Tai Chi softball group decreased significantly, showing a very significant difference (P<0.01).
Effects of 6-month Tai Chi softball exercise on body composition of middle-aged and elderly women
As can be seen in Table 2 , after 6 months of Tai Chi softball practice, the skinfolds of the abdomen and the upper arm decreased significantly before and after the experiment (p<0.01); Body fat percentage decreased significantly (p<0.05). The fat weight of the control group increased before and after the experiment, showing a very significant difference (p<0.01); The skinfold thickness of the upper arm was significantly increased, and the muscle weight was significantly decreased, showing significant differences (p<0.05). After the experiment, compared with the control group, the skinfolds of the abdomen and the upper arm of the Taiji softball group decreased significantly (p<0.01).
Comparison of body composition of middle-aged and elderly women before and after the experiment.
Effects of 6-month Tai Chi softball exercise on bone mineral density in middle-aged and elderly women
As shown in Table 3 and Figure 1 , before the experiment, there was no significant difference in the bone mineral density between the Taiji softball group and the control group (P>0.05). In the control group, the bone mineral density of the whole body and all parts showed a downward trend after the experiment compared with before the experiment, which was significantly different from that before the experiment (p<0.01).
Comparison of bone mineral density in middle-aged and elderly women before and after the experiment.
Comparison of the whole body bone mineral density of middle-aged and elderly women before and after the experiment.
The effect of 6-month Tai Chi softball exercise on the content of bone mineral f in middle-aged and elderly women
As shown in Table 4 , after the experiment, the bone mineral content of the whole body, thigh, trunk and spine in the Taiji softball group decreased compared with those before the experiment, but there was no significant difference. There was a certain increase in bone mineral content in the upper limbs, but there was no significant difference. In the control group, the bone mineral content of the whole body and various parts decreased after the experiment, and the decrease of the thigh and the spine showed a very significant difference.
Comparison of bone mineral content before and after the experiment in Taiji soft ball group.
DISCUSSION
As women age, the basal metabolic rate decreases year by year, the energy consumption in the body slows down, and the body shape characteristics begin to change. An increase in waist circumference increases the risk of cancer, with an 8-fold increase in the risk of cancer for every 1-inch increase in waist circumference. The gradual enlargement of the waist and abdomen seriously affects the health of the body. This study found that, the waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio of the control group increased significantly after the experiment, while the Tai Chi soft ball group did not change much, indicating that Tai Chi soft ball exercise is very helpful for middle-aged and elderly women to maintain their body shape.88. Puente-González AS, Sánchez-Sánchez MC, Fernández-Rodríguez EJ, Hernández-Xumet JE, Méndez-Sánchez R. Effects of 6-month multimodal physical exercise program on bone mineral density, fall risk, balance, and gait in patients with alzheimer’s disease: a controlled clinical trial. Brain Sci. 2021;11(1):63.
Bone mineral density is an important marker of bone quality, reflecting the degree of osteoporosis and an important basis for predicting the risk of fracture.99. Van D, Keyser CD, Zillikens MC, Stricker BH. The effects of osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic medications on fracture risk and bone mineral density. Drugs. 2021;81(16):1831-58. It shows that Tai Chi soft ball exercise can delay the rapid decline of bone mineral density in various parts of the body.1010. Santiprabhob J, Charoentawornpanich P, Khemaprasit K, Manpayak T, Tangjittipokin W. Effect of gender, diabetes duration, inflammatory cytokines, and vitamin d level on bone mineral density among thai children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Bone. 2021;153(6):116112.
CONCLUSION
The author proposes the influence of Tai Chi softball exercise on human body shape and bone density, and conducts group tests on volunteers, the results show that compared with the control group before and after the experiment, the bone mineral density of the whole body and all parts showed a significant downward trend, while the Tai Chi softball group before and after the experiment, bone mineral density decreased slightly at each site. Compared with before the experiment, the bone mineral content of the whole body, thigh, trunk and spine in the Tai Chi soft ball group decreased, but there was no significant difference, there was a certain increase in bone mineral content in the upper limbs, but there was no significant difference. In the control group, the bone mineral content of the whole body and various parts decreased after the experiment, and the decrease of the thigh and the spine showed a very significant difference. It shows that Tai Chi soft ball exercise can alleviate the rapid decline of bone mineral density and bone mineral content in middle-aged and elderly women. In the experimental control, the Tai Chi soft ball has obvious improvement effect on the body shape of middle-aged and elderly women. In follow-up studies, it is recommended that, if conditions permit, extend the experimental period from 6 months to 12 months.
REFERENCES
-
1Yang GY, Sabag A, Hao WL, Zhang LN, Bensoussan A. Tai chi for health and well-being: a bibliometric analysis of published clinical studies between 2010 and 2020. Complement Ther Med. 2021;60(1):102748.
-
2Solianik R, Mickeviien D, Libinait L, Ekanauskait A. Tai chi improves psychoemotional state, cognition, and motor learning in older adults during the covid-19 pandemic. Exp Gerontol. 2021;150(1):111363.
-
3Hu F, Li T. An origami flexiball-inspired metamaterial actuator and its in-pipe robot prototype. Actuators. 2021;10(4):67.
-
4Cross R. Oblique impact of a hard ball on a soft surface. Eur J Phys. 2021;42(6):065005.
-
5Liu D, Yi L, Sheng M, Wang G, Zou Y. The efficacy of tai chi and qigong exercises on blood pressure and blood levels of nitric oxide and endothelin-1 in patients with essential hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020(1):1-24.
-
6Kim AR, Shim YJ. The effects of aerobic exercise capacity on body composition, arterial stiffness, and total body bone mineral density of middle-aged women. Korean J Sport Sci. 2020;29(1):755-62.
-
7Hamilton BR, Staines KA, Kelley GA, Kelley KS, Kohrt WM, Pitsiladis Y, et al. The effects of exercise on bone mineral density in men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Calcif Tissue Int. 2022;110(1):41-56.
-
8Puente-González AS, Sánchez-Sánchez MC, Fernández-Rodríguez EJ, Hernández-Xumet JE, Méndez-Sánchez R. Effects of 6-month multimodal physical exercise program on bone mineral density, fall risk, balance, and gait in patients with alzheimer’s disease: a controlled clinical trial. Brain Sci. 2021;11(1):63.
-
9Van D, Keyser CD, Zillikens MC, Stricker BH. The effects of osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic medications on fracture risk and bone mineral density. Drugs. 2021;81(16):1831-58.
-
10Santiprabhob J, Charoentawornpanich P, Khemaprasit K, Manpayak T, Tangjittipokin W. Effect of gender, diabetes duration, inflammatory cytokines, and vitamin d level on bone mineral density among thai children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Bone. 2021;153(6):116112.
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
14 Nov 2022 -
Date of issue
2023
History
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Received
06 June 2022 -
Accepted
15 July 2022
