Health benefits of short Taichi Qigong exercise (STQE) to University Students' core strength, lower limb explosive force, cardiopulmonary endurance, and anxiety: A Quasi experiment research
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2024
Abstract
Background:College students' physical fitness has declined over the past decades. Taichi Qigong exercise offers numerous health benefits and could serve as a suitable option for them. Traditional programs, however, are time-consuming and necessitate long-term commitments. Therefore, a more cost-effective intervention is needed.Methods:The study enrolled a total of 31 students who actively participated in a 5-week STQE program, consisting of three 60-minute sessions per week. Physical and mental health assessments included the Plank test, vital capacity measurement, 1000/800 m run test, standing jump, and the Zung Self-Rating Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS.Results:Following the STQE intervention, participants showed improvement in core strength (28.1 seconds in the Plank test, P = .025) and lower limb explosive force (6.52 cm in the standing jump test, P = .011), accompanied by a decrease in anxiety levels (a reduction of 3.41 in the Zung Self-Rating Scale, P = .039). However, no significant improvements were observed in cardiopulmonary endurance, as evidenced by a non-significant increase of 237.84 mL in vital capacity (P = .134) and a non-significant reduction of 1.6 seconds in the 1000/800 m run test (P = .764).Conclusion:The study suggests that the STQE program effectively improves core strength, lower limb explosive force, and reduces anxiety levels among university students.
Keywords
anxiety, cardiopulmonary endurance, core strength, health, lower limb explosive force, outcome, Taichi Qigong exercises
Divisions
Education
Publication Title
Medicine
Volume
103
Issue
13
Publisher
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Publisher Location
TWO COMMERCE SQ, 2001 MARKET ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 USA