The Effects of Qigong on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Qigong on type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) using the systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods. All prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trials published in English or Chinese and involving the use of Qigong by patients with DM were searched in 7 electronic databases from their respective inception to June 2016. The meta-analysis was conducted using the Revman 5.2. The quality of the included trials was assessed using the Jadad rating scale. Two researchers independently completed the inclusion, data extraction, and quality assessment. Results. Twenty-one trials with 1326 patients met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The meta-analysis demonstrated that, compared with no exercise, the Qigong had significant effects on fasting blood glucose (MD = −0.99, 95% CI (−1.23, 0.75), P<0.0001), HbA1c (MD = −0.84, 95% CI (−1.02, −0.65), P<0.0001), and postprandial blood glucose (MD = −1.55, 95% CI (−2.19, −0.91), P<0.00001). Conclusion. The Qigong training can improve the blood glucose status of the type 2 DM patients and has positive effects on the management of type 2 DM. However, future research with better quality still needs to be conducted to address the effects of Qigong on type 2 DM

Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of the Effects of Tai Chi on Blood Pressure

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of Tai Chi on blood pressure (BP) using the meta-analysis. Methods. This paper used 6 e-resource databases, and randomized controlled trials on the role of Tai Chi on blood pressure were retrieved. Besides, the meta-analysis was conducted according to the guidelines of the Moose-recommendations and applied with Review Manager 5.3, and the risk of bias assessment was performed with the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. The inclusion, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were independently finished by two researchers. Results. There are 24 trials meeting the criteria of inclusion and the results were reviewed. The meta-analysis indicates that, compared with no exercise, Tai Chi had the influence of lowering systolic blood pressure (mean difference = −6.07, 95%CI (−8.75, −3.39), P<0.00001) and diastolic blood pressure (mean difference MD = −3.83, 95%CI (−4.97, −2.69), P<0.00001). No significant discrepancies in all outcomes between Tai Chi and other aerobic exercises were discovered. Conclusion. Tai Chi can significantly reduce systolic and diastolic pressure than inactivity. However, Tai Chi does not show advantages in reducing blood pressure compared to other aerobic exercises. The trial is registered with CRD42020175306

Weight Status, Physical Fitness, and Health-Related Quality of Life among Chinese Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: The impact of physical fitness (PF) on adolescents&rsquo; health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important health issue in China. The purpose of this study was to identify whether body mass index (BMI), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and musculoskeletal fitness (MSF) influences HRQOL among Chinese adolescents. Method: The participants were 10,007 students (boys = 5276, 14.14 years &plusmn; 1.79; girls = 4829, 14.22 years &plusmn; 1.81) who were randomly selected from 30 secondary schools in Shandong, China. BMI, CRF, MSF, and HRQOL were measured and analyzed using ANCOVA and multiple regression. Results: BMI and physical fitness variables were partially associated with HRQOL in Chinese adolescents. ANCOVA showed a significant difference among BMI categories in terms of physical sense (PS), living convenience, and self-satisfaction (SS) for boys, but this difference was only seen with social activity opportunity (SAO) for girls. Multiple regression found that BMI was significantly associated with SAO. For boys, CRF was associated with the teacher and student relationship and SS, whereas MSF was only associated with PS. For girls, CRF was significantly linked with the parent and children relationship, learning capacity, and attitudes and self-perception (S-P), while MSF was associated with S-P. Conclusion: Enforcing physical activity and enhancing PF will be a crucial pathway in improving adolescents&rsquo; HRQOL in China

A Cross Sectional Examination of the Relation Between Depression and Frequency of Leisure Time Physical Exercise among the Elderly in Jinan, China

Depression has become a major global public health problem. Many studies have shown the positive effects of physical exercise on depression. However, few studies have examined the relationship between frequency of leisure time physical exercise and depression without considering the time and intensity of exercise among middle-aged and elderly people of urban communities in northern China. We conducted a cross-sectional survey that included 1604 participants among urban residents aged 50 years or older in China to evaluate how the frequency of physical exercise was related to depression. Our study showed that the prevalence of depression in the urban community of Jinan is 16.52%. For physical exercise, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 1~2 times per week, 3~4 times per week and &ge;5 times per week were 1.137 (0.661, 1.953), 0.516 (0.304, 0.875) and 0.548 (0.392, 0.768) respectively, with adjustment for age, gender, marital status, BMI, hypertension, previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes, triglyceride, total cholesterol, soy food intake, milk food intake, vegetable and fruit intake and meat intake. We concluded that physically exercising three times a week is associated with a low prevalence of depression

Body mass index and physical fitness among Chinese adolescents from Shandong Province: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background This study aimed to describe the most recent prevalence estimates of adolescent body mass index (BMI) and physical fitness from thirteen regions in Shandong Province, China and to examine differences by social-economic status (SES). Methods The participants were 27,955 adolescents (mean age = 14.4 ± 1.8 years; 13,791 girls) enrolled from 91 public middle and high schools randomly selected from 13 administrative regions in Shandong Province. The Chinese National Student Physical Fitness Standard was employed to assess participants’ fitness once during the school semester. Fitness assessments included BMI, a 50-m sprint run, sit-and-reach, standing-broad jump, sit-ups, pull-ups, and a 1000 m/boy or 800 m/girl distance run. Participants’ fitness performance was categorized as excellent, good, pass, or no pass. Results The percent of Chinese adolescents categorized as “no pass” ranged from just 8.9% for BMI to 67.1% for boy pull-ups. The percent of Chinese adolescents categorized as “excellent” ranged from 5.0% for the girl sit-ups to 35.4% for the 50-m sprint run. Approximately 8.4% of the sample was categorized as excellent for BMI. SES significantly predicted both girl and boy continuous distance run scores (p < 0.05). Adolescents in lower SES strata had lower odds of achieving “pass” or better on cardio-respiratory endurance tests, muscular fitness tests, and flexibility tests, but higher odds of achieving “pass” or better on BMI compared to adolescents who were high SES (p < 0.05). Conclusions The large sample of the adolescents in Shandong province, on average, had healthy weight status and achieved a high prevalence of “pass” or better on physical fitness tests. Adolescents who were low SES demonstrated poorer cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular fitness, and flexibility test achievement but better BMI achievement compared to high SES adolescents in Shandong Province, China

The effects of combined exercise intervention based on Internet and social media software for postoperative patients with breast cancer: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Many randomized controlled trials have investigated the effects of exercise on the rehabilitation of patients with breast cancer. However, the exercise forms used in most previous studies were monotonous. Therefore, we designed a protocol to estimate the effects of combined exercise intervention using Internet and social media software on the rehabilitation of postoperative patients with BC. Methods/Design This study protocol is a randomized control trial with an intervention time of 12 weeks. After completing baseline questionnaire and physical fitness tests, the participants are randomized to the study group or the control group. Procedure contents of exercise intervention in the study group include: via phone step-recording app, ask the individuals to complete the target number of steps within a specified period of exercise, four times per week; face-to-face remote video guidance of individuals on muscle training, three times per week; common knowledge of physical exercise BC rehabilitation will be pushed regularly by social media apps every day. The control group will receive normal treatment and rehabilitation according to daily specifications of the hospital. The primary outcome will be the quality of life. The secondary outcomes are physical fitness and social cognitive indicators. Discussion This study is a clinical trial to estimate the effects of combined exercise intervention based on the Internet and social media software for postoperative patients with breast cancer (BC). If expected results are achieved in this study, measures and methods of BC rehabilitation will be enriched. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Register, ChiCTR-IPR-17012368. Registered on 14 August 2017

Associations between individual and environmental factors and habitual physical activity among older Chinese adults: A social–ecological perspective

Purpose: To examine, within a social–ecological framework, associations between multifaceted individual and environmental factors and habitual physical activity (HPA) among older Chinese adults. Methods: Through a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, a survey instrument assessing various factors underlying 3 social–ecological dimensions of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and community and environmental resources was developed. Using a cross-sectional design, older adults (n = 1580, aged 67 ± 7 years) recruited from 10 communities in Shandong province completed the social–ecological survey of HPA. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Path Modeling. Results: Factors related to intrapersonal (medical knowledge, motivation, physical function, sport skills, socioeconomic status, and education), interpersonal (social support, social activity, and social norms), and community and physical environmental resources (safety, capacity, availability of and access to physical activity facilities) were found to be significantly associated with older adults' participation in HPA. Conclusion: The findings provide an initial validation of a social–ecological approach to the study of HPA in China, suggesting that strategies aimed at promoting physical activity in older adults should address multiple levels of factors that may contribute to the likelihood of older Chinese adults being physically active

Chronic diseases knowledge and related factors among the elderly in Jinan, China.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that the prevalence of chronic diseases is high among old people and they have poor chronic diseases knowledge. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the awareness rate of chronic diseases knowledge among people aged over 60 years, to explore its related factors and to provide evidence for future health education. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August in 2011. People aged 60 years and above from 3 communities in Jinan were selected by cluster sampling. Nine hundred and twenty five participants were interviewed face-to-face using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The awareness rates of chronic diseases knowledge varied from 29.5% to 90.2%. Four healthy lifestyles including quitting smoking and less drinking, keeping broad-minded, maintaining balanced diet and moderate physical activity were best known (from 86.3% to 90.2%). The least known knowledge were 2 complications of hypertension: nephropathy (29.5%) and retinopathy (37.2%). Participants with the following characteristics or behaviors were more likely to have higher chronic diseases knowledge: younger age, female, Han Chinese, higher level of education, having health insurance, participating in societies, having family history of chronic diseases, frequently gathering with friends/relatives, usually going to provincial hospitals/hospitals affiliated with medical universities, usually going to municipal hospitals and usually going to community health center/station. CONCLUSIONS: Old people in Jinan had incomplete chronic diseases knowledge and the overall awareness rate was not high. The older people's chronic diseases knowledge should be improved and health education programs should target males, older people with lower educational level, having no health insurance, having no family history of chronic diseases, participating in no societies, and less frequently gathering with friends/relatives. Also, lower level medical facilities should improve their skills of health education

Multivariate logistic regression analysis on related factors of higher knowledge among the elderly in Jinan.

<p>Multivariate logistic regression analysis on related factors of higher knowledge among the elderly in Jinan.</p