title: Qigong improving physical status in middle-aged women.
abstract: Regular exercise has been shown to benefit its practitioners and prevent and control diseases. Muscle/Tendon Change Classic (MTCC) qigong, characterized by simple, slow, and full-body exercise, is appropriate for the middle-age population. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the MTCC qigong program in improving physical status for middle-aged women. A quasi-experimental design was used. The experimental group (n = 37) received an 8-week MTCC qigong program, whereas the control group (n = 34) received none. Physiological parameters of muscular performance, body composition, and bone strength were measured before and after the program. The average age was 49 +/- 4.13 years for the experimental group and 50 +/- 4.74 years for the control group. The demographic characteristics were homogeneous between the two groups. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in muscular endurance, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, and body mass index at the completion of 8-week MTCC qigong program. The MTCC qigong could improve muscle endurance and body composition but not bone strength for middle-aged women, thereby demonstrating the qigong practice has certain health-preserving effects on women in this stage of life.
authors.affiliation: Far East College.
authors.forename: Yi-Kuei
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Hsing-Hsia
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: I-Hsin
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Mei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D014930:Women