[Effects of Tai Chi exercise on cardiovascular risk factors and quality of life in post-menopausal women].
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.
Song
Rhayun
R
Department of Nursing, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea.
Ahn
Sukhee
S
So
Hee Young
HY
Park
In Sook
IS
Kim
Hyun Li
HL
Joo
Kyung Ok
KO
Kim
Jong Sung
JS
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
D002784:Cholesterol