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Table 2 Effects of 12-week qigong with aerobic exercise program on physical function, body composition and abdominal fats

From: Positive effects of a qigong and aerobic exercise program on physical health in elderly Japanese women: an exploratory study

  

60–69 years (n = 35)

≥70 years (n = 37)

Total (n = 72)

Baseline 

Post-intervention

Baseline

Post-intervention

Baseline

Post-intervention

Lung capacity (ml)

 

2,032.7 ± 581.2

2,202.5 ± 541.8*

1,904.2 ± 478.3

1,940.5 ± 469.7*#

1,992.3 ± 476.0

2,092.2 ± 456.2*

Whole-body reaction (s)

 

0.411 ± 0.050

0.429 ± 0.064

0.448 ± 0.081

0.444 ± 0.066

0.431 ± 0.070

0.437 ± 0.065

Stork stand (eyes open) (s)

 

55.0 ± 33.8

57.6 ± 33.2

35.4 ± 32.5#

46.5 ± 32.3*

44.7 ± 34.5

52.1 ± 33.0*

Trunk bending (cm)

 

15.9 ± 7.1

22.1 ± 6.4*

17.2 ± 10.1

19.5 ± 8.2*

16.6 ± 8.9

20.7 ± 7.5*

Normal walking for 30 m (s)

 

21.1 ± 3.0

20 ± 3.1*

21.4 ± 2.9

20.7 ± 3.2

21.3 ± 2.9

20.5 ± 3.0*

Maximum walking for 30 m (s)

 

15.9 ± 3.9

15.7 ± 3.6

17.1 ± 3.7#

16.9 ± 3.6#

16.6 ± 3.3

16.4 ± 3.1

Rising (s)

 

3.5 ± 1.4

3.1 ± 1.2*

3.9 ± 1.1#

3.4 ± 1.2*

3.7 ± 1.2

3.3 ± 1.1*

Bone mineral content (kg)

Trunk

0.38 ± 0.07

0.38 ± 0.07

0.35 ± 0.08

0.35 ± 0.08

0.36 ± 0.07

0.36 ± 0.08

Arms

0.20 ± 0.05

0.20 ± 0.05

0.19 ± 0.04#

0.19 ± 0.03#

0.19 ± 0.04

0.19 ± 0.04

Legs

0.55 ± 0.13

0.55 ± 0.13

0.52 ± 0.09#

0.51 ± 0.09#

0.53 ± 0.11

0.53 ± 0.11

Subtotal

1.15 ± 0.18

1.15 ± 0.17

1.05 ± 0.18#

1.05 ± 0.19#

1.10 ± 0.19

1.10 ± 0.19

Fat mass (kg)

Trunk

9.05 ± 3.29

8.57 ± 3.18*

8.54 ± 3.37

8.36 ± 3.20

8.77 ± 3.32

8.45 ± 3.17*

Arms

2.49 ± 0.89

2.46 ± 0.91

2.37 ± 0.72

2.36 ± 0.77

2.42 ± 0.80

2.41 ± 0.83

Legs

5.89 ± 2.08

5.75 ± 2.15*

5.80 ± 1.53

5.64 ± 1.49*

5.84 ± 1.79

5.69 ± 1.81*

Subtotal

17.67 ± 5.47

17.02 ± 5.53*

16.71 ± 5.12

16.36 ± 4.93*

17.15 ± 5.27

16.66 ± 5.18*

Lean soft tissue mass (kg)

Trunk

19.01 ± 2.17

19.24 ± 2.32*

18.67 ± 2.26

18.83 ± 2.10

18.83 ± 2.21

19.02 ± 2.19*

Arms

3.69 ± 0.85

3.77 ± 0.83

3.64 ± 0.47

3.68 ± 0.44

3.66 ± 0.67

3.73 ± 0.65

Legs

11.23 ± 2.31

11.39 ± 2.24

11.30 ± 1.33

11.28 ± 1.21

11.27 ± 1.84

11.33 ± 1.75

Subtotal

34.37 ± 3.74

34.85 ± 3.58*

33.61 ± 3.61

33.80 ± 3.40

33.95 ± 3.66

34.28 ± 3.50*

Body mass (kg)

Subtotal

53.20 ± 8.37

53.02 ± 8.45

51.37 ± 7.99

51.21 ± 7.75

52.20 ± 8.16

52.03 ± 8.07

Subcutaneous fat (cm2)

 

219.0 ± 71.4

206.6 ± 68.3*

194.7 ± 79.2

189.2 ± 80.2

208.0 ± 73.1

199.8 ± 72.0*

Visceral fat (cm2)

 

142.6 ± 46.8

138.6 ± 47.4

154.4 ± 60.9

149.7 ± 65.5

150.8 ± 52.4

146.5 ± 55.7

  1. Data are means ± SD
  2. * P < 0.05 vs. baseline, # P < 0.05 vs. 60–69 years group at baseline or post-intervention