title: Tai Chi and Kung-Fu practice maintains physical performance but not vascular health in young versus old participants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Kung-Fu and Tai Chi along with other martial arts are gaining popularity but studies examining the benefits of martial arts on physical fitness, vascular health, nutrition, and psychological wellness are limited. Aging is associated with declines in these health components. The objectives of this study were to examine whether Tai Chi and Kung-Fu training would maintain physical fitness, vascular health, and psychological wellness components on older versus younger practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen subjects were recruited and divided into Young (age <40 years, n=9) and Old (age 40 years and above, n=8). Participants reported twice for health screens, vascular and nutrition assessment, and fitness tests. Mean differences were compared between groups for all tests using Student's t-tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age, months of practice, systolic blood pressure, and cardiovascular augmentation index were significantly greater in Old versus Young (p=0.001, p=0.007, p=0.049, and p=0.011, respectively). Psychologically, old practitioners experienced greater sleep interference (p=0.035) and overall pain (p=0.036). No other differences existed for any variable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicates that the practice of Tai Chi and Kung-Fu maintains physical fitness in older compared to younger practitioners. However, age associated changes in cardiovascular stiffness, systolic blood pressure, and pain were not prevented.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science , Appalachian State University , Boone , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McAnulty
authors.affiliation: b Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management , Appalachian State University , Boone , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McAnulty
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science , Appalachian State University , Boone , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science , Appalachian State University , Boone , NC , USA.|c Department of Physical Education , Federal University of Parana , Curitiba , PR , Brazil (CNPq Fellowship-Brazil).
authors.forename: Tacito P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Souza-Junior
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science , Appalachian State University , Boone , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McBride
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D026302:Tai Ji / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Martial arts; cardiovascular health; nutrition; physical fitness; psychological health