Changes in heart-rate variability of survivors of nasopharyngeal cancer during Tai Chi Qigong practice

Abstract

[Purpose] To explore the changes in heart-rate variability (HRV) of survivors of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) before, during, and after a Tai Chi (TC) Qigong exercise. [Subjects and Methods] Eleven survivors of NPC participated voluntarily in the study. The heart rate of each participant was measured continuously for 1 minute before the TC Qigong intervention, during the 5-minute TC Qigong intervention, and for 1 minute after the intervention, using a Polar heart-rate monitor. Spectral HRV was expressed in terms of normalised low frequency (LF) power, normalised high frequency (HF) power, and the low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) power ratio. [Results] Both the LF-power and the HF-power components had significant time effects. However, the time effect of the LF/HF power ratio was not significant. Post hoc contrast analysis revealed a significant decrease in LF power and a concomitant increase in HF power during the 4th minute and 5th minute of the TC Qigong exercise. [Conclusion] Five minutes of TC Qigong exercise was found to improve HRV by increasing HF power and decreasing LF power, but these effects were transient. TC Qigong might be an appropriate exercise for improving the ANS function and psychological and cardiac health of survivors of NPC.

Effects of circuit exercise on autonomic nerve system of survivors after surgery of breast cancer

“…Other studies did not find any statistically significant difference either15, 20, 21 ) . The LF/HF value represents the balance between the activities of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system within a human body.…”

Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Undergoing Chemoradiotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…12,13 A five-minute Tai Chi practice was confirmed to trigger transient increased vagal tone and concomitant decreased sympathetic tone in NPC survivors. 12 ANS dysfunction occurs physiologically in the elders, which can be improved by long-term Tai Chi exercise. 13 Growing evidence suggests potential benefits of Tai Chi exercise for CRF 7,8 and ANS balance 12,13 ; however, the effects of Tai Chi have not been demonstrated in NPC patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy, and it remains unclear whether Tai Chi for CRF is relevant to the improved ANS balance in this population.…”

“…10,11 Heart rate variability (HRV) associates with changes in cardiac autonomic regulation and has been widely used as a noninvasive and low-cost tool to evaluate ANS balance. 12,13 In fact, Tai Chi exercise has been found to exert a potential role in promoting sympathovagal balance indicated by HRV parameters. 12,13 A five-minute Tai Chi practice was confirmed to trigger transient increased vagal tone and concomitant decreased sympathetic tone in NPC survivors.…”

“…12,13 In fact, Tai Chi exercise has been found to exert a potential role in promoting sympathovagal balance indicated by HRV parameters. 12,13 A five-minute Tai Chi practice was confirmed to trigger transient increased vagal tone and concomitant decreased sympathetic tone in NPC survivors. 12 ANS dysfunction occurs physiologically in the elders, which can be improved by long-term Tai Chi exercise.…”

Impact of personality-oriented programs of physical rehabilitation on the heart rate variability in women with post-mastectomy syndrome

“…Autonomic nervous system is one of the major adaptive systems of the human body, which plays the key role in the regulation of homeostatic mechanisms. Results of scientific investigation indicate that physical exercises help to improve the functional state of the autonomic nervous system in cancer survivors [15][16][17][18][19][20].…”