The Effects of Tai Chi Training on Bone Density，Bone Turnover Markers，and Heart Rate Variability in High-Risk Osteoporosis Population
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2025.15.010
- VernacularTitle:太极拳训练对骨质疏松症高风险人群骨密度、骨转换标志物及心率变异性的影响
- Author:
Jiaming LIN
1
;
Chao LI
2
;
Wei ZHAO
1
;
Jun ZHOU
1
;
Xiaoying CHEN
3
;
Xiangyu XI
4
;
Haijun HE
5
;
Baohong MI
1
;
Yuefeng CHEN
1
;
Weiheng CHEN
1
Author Information
1. Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital，Beijing，100029
2. National Olympic Sports Center
3. Yibin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Sichuan Province
4. Beijing Xicheng Guangwai Hospital
5. Wangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
osteoporosis;
Tai Chi;
bone density;
heart rate variability;
bone turnover markers
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;66(15):1566-1571
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of the Tai Chi training on bone density， bone turnover markers， and heart rate variability for people with high-risk osteoporosis， and to provide evidence for the prevention of osteoporosis at early stage. MethodsSixty-six cases of people with high risk of osteoporosis were included， and they were divided into 33 cases each in the intervention group and the control group using the random number table method. The control group received osteoporosis health education three times a week， and the intervention group received Tai Chi training under the guidance of a trainer three times a week for 40 mins each time on the basis of the control group， and both groups were intervened for 12 weeks. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure the bone density of L1~L4 vertebrae， bilateral femoral necks and bilateral total hips in the two groups before and after the intervention； enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine bone turnover markers before and after the intervention， including pro-collagen type Ⅰ pro-amino-terminal prepropyl peptide （P1NP） and β-collagen type Ⅰ cross-linking carboxy-terminal peptide （β-CTX）. Seven cases with good compliance in the intervention group were selected. After wearing the heart rate sensor， they successively performed Tai Chi training and walking activities recommended by the guideline for 20 mins each， and the heart rate variability （HRV） during exercise was collected， including time-domain indexes such as standard deviation of normal sinus intervals （SDNN）， root-mean-square of the difference between adjacent RR intervals （RMSSD）， frequency-domain metrics such as low-frequency power （LF）， high-frequency power （HF）， and low-frequency/high-frequency power ratio （LF/HF）， as well as nonlinear metrics such as approximate entropy （ApEn）， sample entropy （SampEn）. ResultsFinally， 63 cases were included in the outcome analysis， including 30 cases in the intervention group and 33 cases in the control group. After the intervention， the differences of L1~L4 vertebrae， bone density of bilateral femoral neck and bilateral total hip in the intervention group were not statistically significant when compared with those before intervention （P＞0.05）， while the bone density of all parts of the control group decreased significantly compared with that before intervention （P＜0.05）， and the difference in the bone density of the L1~L4 vertebrae， bilateral femoral neck， and the right total hip before and after the intervention of the intervention group was smaller than that of the control group （P＜0.05）. The differences in P1NP and β-CTX between groups before and after intervention was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. Compared with walking exercise， LF decreased， HF increased and LF/HF decreased during Tai Chi exercise （P＜0.05）； the time domain indexes and non-linear indexes between groups had no statistically significant difference （P＞0.05）. ConclusionTai Chi exercise can maintain lumbar， hip， and femoral bone density and improve sympathetic/parasympathetic balance in people at high risk for osteoporosis， but cannot significantly improve bone turnover markers.
