The health benefits of Tai Chi
Physical inactivity is a major risk factor associated with cardiovascular diseases, while regular exercise contributes to a reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality. A 3-month Tai Chi programme was conducted in the community for people with cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, overweight, physical inactivity and smoking. After acquiring Tai Chi skills, participants were advised to practise Tai Chi at home for at least 30 minutes per day and 5 days per week. Tai Chi exercise was then compared with brisk walking exercise. The results suggest that regular Tai Chi exercise is better than brisk walking in reducing blood pressure and blood glucose levels, and improving psychosocial well-being with long-term benefits.
Moreover, a 12-week group- plus home-based Tai Chi programme was conducted in the community for patients with coronary heart disease. Participants in the Tai Chi group first attended supervised group-based Tai Chi classes with incrementally increasing sessions over 6 weeks, followed by 6-week home-based Tai Chi with 4 sessions per week and 60 minutes per session. The results showed that patients’ physical functions (including aerobic endurance, lower-body strength, lower-body flexibility, and balance), blood pressure and psychosocial well-being had been improved after joining this Tai Chi programme.
Related Research Projects
| Project Title | Funding Source | Principal Investigator | Project Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation of the effectiveness of Tai Chi versus brisk walking in reducing cardiovascular risk factors: A randomised controlled trial | Health and Medical Research Fund | CHAN Wai Kiu, Aileen | 2015–2017 |
Selected Publications
| Selected Publications |
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| Leung, L. Y. L., Tam, H. L., & Ho, J. K. M. (2022). Effectiveness of Tai Chi on older adults: A systematic review of systematic reviews with re-meta-analysis. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 103, 104796. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2022.104796 |
| Liu, T., Chan, A.W.K., & Chair, S.Y. (2022). Group-plus home-based Tai Chi program improves functional health among patients with coronary heart disease: A randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 2022;, zvab126. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjcn/zvab126 |
| Zhao, J., Chau, J. P. C., Chan, A. W. K., Meng, Q., Choi, K. C., Xiang, X., Zhao, Y., He, R., & Li, Q. (2022). A tailored sitting Tai Chi program for subacute stroke survivors: A randomized controlled trial. Stroke, 53(7), 2192-2203. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.121.036578 |
| Liu, T., Chan, A. W. K., Taylor-Piliae, R. E., Choi, K. C., & Chair, S. Y. (2021). Psychometric properties of the translated Tai Chi exercise self-efficacy scale for Chinese adults with coronary heart disease or risk factors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 3651. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073651 |
| Liu, T., Chair, S. Y., & Chan, A. W. K. (2020). Group- plus home-based Tai Chi programme improves physical function and psychosocial well-being among patients with coronary heart disease. Circulation, 141 (Suppl 1), A27. https://doi.org/10.1161/circ.141.suppl_1.27 |
| Leung, L. Y. L., Chan, A. W. K., Sit, J. W. H., Liu, T., & Taylor-Piliae, R. E. (2019). Tai Chi in Chinese adults with metabolic syndrome: A pilot randomised controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 46, 54–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2019.07.008 |
| Chan, A. W. K. , Chair, S. Y., Lee, T. F. D., Leung, D. Y. P., Sit, J. W. H., Cheng, H. Y., & Taylor-Piliae, R. E. (2018). Tai Chi exercise is more effective than brisk walking in reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors among adults with hypertension: A randomised controlled trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 88, 44–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.08.009 |
| Liu, T., Chan, A. W. K., Liu, Y. H., & Taylor-Piliae, R. E. (2018). Effects of Tai Chi-based cardiac rehabilitation on aerobic endurance, psychosocial well-being, and cardiovascular risk reduction among patients with coronary heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 17(4), 368–383. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474515117749592 |
Knowledge Transfer Activities
In the Press/Media Interviews:
- 陳惠嬌（ 2022年7月7日）。〈第三號殺手：慢性阻塞性肺病〉。《信報財經新聞》。
- 陳惠嬌（2021年9月17日）。〈太極氣功改善慢阻肺病〉。《信報財經新聞》。
- 陳惠嬌及劉婷（2021 年 6月3日）。〈太極護心〉。《信報財經新聞》。
- 陳惠嬌及劉婷（2020 年8月21日）。〈太極可改善代謝綜合症〉。《信報財經新聞》。
- 陳惠嬌（2019 年5月2日）。〈日日耍太極 助降血壓防爆標〉。《香港經濟日報》。
- 陳惠嬌（嘉賓講者）（2019 年2月 19日）《無耆不有：「九十後」— 相對健步行，耍太極更能降低血壓水平》。無綫電視 。
- 陳惠嬌（嘉賓講者）（2018 年12月 31日）。《醫療：研究指耍太極助降血壓 專家稱有利血管健康》。無綫新聞。
- 陳惠嬌（2018 年10月 27日）。〈Dr. 東：長者學太極耍走高血壓 日日練強心肺〉。On.cc東網。
- 陳惠嬌（2018 年10月 27日）。〈Dr. 東：練武3個月上壓降 老友記減藥物依賴〉。On.cc東網。
Health Resources Developed:
| Research Highlights |
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Cancer and Palliative Care |
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Cardiovascular, Metabolic and Stroke Care |
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Ageing, Behavioural and Mental Wellness |
| To Collaborate with Us |
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Prof. CHAN Wai Kiu, Aileen
