ABSTRACT
The usage of “Taiji sense”(a kind of image) is required during Taijiquan (TJQ) exercise, but some practitioners virtually ignore it all the time while exercising. The significance for the usage of “Taiji sense” is still completely unknown. This study assessed the psycho-physiological effects of “Taiji sense” during 24-style TJQ exercise (24TJQ). 25 middle-elderly 24TJQ-experienced subjects were divided into Taiji-sensed group (TS), non-Taiji-sensed group (NTS) and ergometry exercise group (EE) by balancing their age and TJQ experience time. The division of TS and NTS was determined by a self-reported investigation, based on whether the practitioner usually use or do not use the image of “Taiji sense” while exercising TJQ. Electroencephalography and profile of mood states were examined and compared. After exercise, TS showed greater increase of α activity (P<0.05) and greater decrease of β activity (P<0.05) than EE, respectively. α hemispherical asymmetry score indicated by Fp1-Fp2 showed significant decrease change (P<0.05) in TS after exercise (Post2), and tended to be lower (P=0.056) than that of NTS. Even though all conditions significantly decreased Tension-Anxiety (T-A) scores (P<0.05, for all), only TS significantly increased Vigor (V) score (P<0.05). The change of α activity inversely correlated to the change of T-A score (r=−0.78, P<0.0001) in all conditions. Conclusively, the usage of “Taiji sense” might help to produce stronger psycho-physiological responses during 24TJQ practice, and give rise to effective relaxation after exercise, as classics pointed out.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between the energy expenditure and the level of physical performance in preschool-age children. Seventy-six boys (5-6 years of age) had motor performance tests (25 m run, soft-ball throw, standing-long-jump, Zig-Zag run, upright handstand jog time, sit-and-reach, one-leg-balance) . Twenty boys were divided into two groups. One consisted of ten boys as the superior group and the other ten boys as the inferior group in results of the motor performance tests.<BR>Energy expenditure was calculated from oxygen intake measured by each child's HR-VO<SUB>2</SUB> regression equation in a treadmill running test and 24-hour heart rate measurement by monitoring recorder. Daily energy uptake was estimated from the weight and kind of food recorded by their parents.<BR>Energy expenditure in kindergarten, at home and in one day for the superior group were found to be higher than those for the inferior group. Energy uptake in the superior group showed a significant-ly higher value than that in the inferior group. It can be concluded that the children of the superior group appeared to be more active, since test and monitoring measurements showed they had more energy expenditure and energy uptake.