Acute Effects of T'ai Chi Chuan Exercise on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Peripheral Artery Disease Patients.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the acute effect of a t'ai chi chuan session on blood pressure and heart rate in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

DESIGN

Randomized crossover intervention study.

SETTING

Outpatient therapy center.

PARTICIPANTS

Seven patients with PAD, aged 50-79 years, not using β-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, or nondihidropiridinic vasodilators.

INTERVENTION

T'ai chi chuan and control session (both sessions lasted 40 minutes).

OUTCOME MEASURES

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, which were evaluated before and after the intervention (10, 30, and 50 minutes).

RESULTS

T'ai chi chuan exercise acutely decreased systolic blood pressure at 30 minutes after exercise (p = 0.042) and increased diastolic blood pressure at 50 minutes after exercise (p = 0.041). Heart rate did not change after t'ai chi chuan exercise.

CONCLUSION

T'ai chi chuan acutely decreases systolic blood pressure in patients with PAD.