title: Effects of Qi-training on heart rate variability.
abstract: This study investigates changes in autonomic nervous function through Qi-training. The power spectrum of heart rate variability (HRV) was examined in 20 sedentary healthy subjects and 20 Qi-trainees. It was found that Qi-training in healthy young subjects during controlled respiration increases the high frequency (HF) power and decreases the low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) power ratio of HRV. These results support the hypothesis that Qi-training increases cardiac parasympathetic tone. In addition, Qi-trainees were found to have higher parasympathetic heart modulation compared with their age-matched, sedentary counterparts. This augmented HRV in Qi-trainees provides further support for long-term Qi-training as a possible non-pharmacological cardio-protective maneuver. In conclusion, Qi-training may stabilize the autonomic nervous system by modulating the parasympathetic nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Qi-Medicine, Institute of Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, 570-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Myeong Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hwa Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Byung Gi
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hoon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Ho-Sub
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong-Moon
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hun-Taeg
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology