title: [Effects of Tai Chi exercise on cardiovascular risk factors and quality of life in post-menopausal women].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Natural menopause resulting in the decline in endogenous estrogen concentrations is responsible for an increased risk of coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a 6-month Tai Chi exercise program on cardiovascular risk factors and quality of life in post-menopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest measures was used. The participants in the study, 29 women in the Tai Chi group and 31 in the control group, were enrolled for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 6 months of Tai Chi exercise, total cholesterol (M=213 to 185), LDL-cholesterol (M=135 to 128), and their 10 yr cardiovascular disease risk (M=2.62 to 2.27) had improved significantly for the Tai Chi participants compared to the control group. Total scores for quality of life along with the sub-dimensions of health perception and mental functioning were also significantly higher in the Tai Chi participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tai Chi exercise favorably affected cardiovascular health and quality of life in post-menopausal women after 6 months. Additional rigorous studies are needed to examine long term effects on the prevention of cardiovascular disease in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Rhayun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Sukhee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Hee Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: In Sook
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyun Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Ok
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Jong Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D026302:Tai Ji
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol