Sit, breathe, smile: effects of single and weekly seated Qigong on blood pressure and quality of life in long-term care.
Long-term care (LTC) facilities house individuals with diverse combinations of cognitive and physical impairments, and the practice of Seated Qigong eliminates common exercise barriers. This study hypothesized: 1) a single session would lower blood pressure (BP) and improve quality of life (QOL) in a generalized LTC population, and 2) these responses would be attenuated with chronic (weekly) Seated Qigong practice. Ten residents (6 female; 86 ± 7 years) participated in 1X/week Seated Qigong sessions for 10-weeks. BP and QOL were assessed pre- and post-session at baseline and following 5- and 10-weeks of Qigong. Systolic BP was significantly reduced immediately post-session after 10-weeks of Qigong (P = 0.03), yet unchanged at baseline and after 5-weeks (all P > 0.05). Diastolic BP and QOL remained unchanged (P > 0.05). A session of Seated Qigong elicits a hypotensive response with exposure, supporting the notion that repeated sessions may provide advantageous health benefits.
Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4. Electronic address: freemans@uwindsor.ca.
Shane R
SR
Freeman
Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4. Electronic address: hanik@uwindsor.ca.
Sarah-Anne E
SA
Hanik
Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4. Electronic address: littlejm@uwindsor.ca.
Meagan L
ML
Littlejohn
Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4. Electronic address: malandru@uwindsor.ca.
Amanda A
AA
Malandruccolo
School of Dramatic Art, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4. Electronic address: coughli1@uwindsor.ca.
Joanna
J
Coughlin
School of Dramatic Art, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4; Schlegel-University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging, 325 Max Becker Dr., Suite 202, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2E 4H5. Electronic address: merv123@uwindsor.ca.
Bernie
B
Warren
Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4; Schlegel-University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging, 325 Max Becker Dr., Suite 202, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2E 4H5. Electronic address: mcgowanc@uwindsor.ca.
Cheri L
CL
McGowan
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D064906:Qigong / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life
Blood pressure; Qigong; Quality of life