Research Quarterly for Exercise & Sport. 1989 Sept. 1989 60(3):246-50

Authors: Brown DD. Mucci WG. Hetzler RK. Knowlton RG.

Department of Physical Education, Illinois State University.

T'ai Chi Chuan is a widely practiced Chinese martial art said to physically develop balance and coordination as well as enhance emotional and mental health. It consists of a series of postures combined into a sequential movement providing a smooth, continuous, low-intensity activity.

The purpose of this study was to examine the ventilatory and cardiovascular responses to the Long Form of Yang's style Tai Chi. In addition, the subjects' Tai Chi responses were compared to their ventilatory and cardiovascular responses during cycle ergometry at an oxygen consumption equivalent to the mean Tai Chi.

Six experienced (M = 8.3 yrs) male Tai Chi practitioners served as subjects with data collected during the Cloud Hand movement of the Tai Chi exercise.

Significantly (p less than .05) lower responses for ventilatory frequency (Vf) (11.3 and 15.7 breaths.min-1), ventilatory equivalent (VE/VO2) (23.47 and 27.41), and the ratio of dead space ventilation to tidal volume (VD/VT) (20 and 270c) were found in Tai Chi Chuan in comparison to cycle ergometry.

The percentage of minute ventilation used for alveolar ventilation was significantly higher during TCC (p less than .03) than cycle ergometry, with mean values of 81.lt and 73.lt respectively.

Cardiac output, stroke volume, and heart rate were not significantly different between Tai Chi exercise and cycle ergometry at the same oxygen consumption.

Researchers concluded that, during Tai Chi, expert practitioners show significantly different ventilatory responses leading to more efficient use of the ventilatory'volume than would be expected from comparable levels of exertion on a cycle ergometer.

The Research Abstract "Cardiovascular and ventilatory responses during formalized T'ai Chi Chuan exercise." was found at http://members.al.com/sltcca/research/taireabs.htm#Wolfson2Abs