Key result
Tai Chi and Qigong improve high-frequency power and SDNN vs control.
Why the study?
Heart rate variability is a potential mechanism for the physiological and psychological benefits of meditative movement, but synthesized evidence on Tai Chi and Qigong effects was needed.
Do Tai Chi and Qigong interventions improve heart rate variability parameters in adult populations?
Meta-Analysis
Do Tai Chi and Qigong interventions improve heart rate variability parameters in adult populations?
Effect estimate: SMD 0.29 (HF power), SMD 0.83 (SDNN) (95% CI 0.10-0.48 (HF power), 0.16-1.51 (SDNN))
p-value: p=0.003 (HF power), 0.02 (SDNN)
Tai Chi and Qigong interventions may improve heart rate variability parameters, specifically high-frequency power and SDNN, suggesting enhanced physiological resilience.
May support Tai Chi/Qigong for autonomic modulation in adults; extends meta-analytic evidence on HRV benefits.
Background: Intervention studies examining meditative movement (MM) often demonstrate benefits on physiological and psychological health. A potential mechanism associated with these outcomes is heart rate variability (HRV), an important neurophysiological biomarker of optimal and resilient health and functioning. Objective: We aimed to synthesize existing literature on the effects of two related forms of MM, Tai Chi (TC) and Qigong (QG) on HRV parameters in adult populations. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines and Cochrane Collaboration recommendations, four databases (MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Academic Search Premier, and PubMed) were searched for articles (through December 15, 2023) that included TC and/or movement-based QG intervention versus any control condition (active or inactive) and reported at least one HRV outcome. Two reviewers independently completed study selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment. Results: We identified 148 for potential inclusion. After removing 61 duplicates, 87 full-text reviews yielded 23 articles, and 16 qualified for meta-analysis based on common HRV outcomes. Meta-analyses indicated a significant overall effect of TC/QG interventions on high-frequency power and standard deviation of the beat-to-beat intervals (SDNN), two critical HRV parameters, compared with control conditions: for HF power, standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.29, P = 0.003, 95% Confidence interval (CI) [0.10, 0.48]; heterogeneity: I 2 = 46%, χ 2 (8) = 14.89, P = 0.06; and for SDNN: SMD = 0.83, P = 0.02, 95% CI [0.16, 1.51]; heterogeneity: I 2 = 90%, χ 2 (7) = 71.62, P < 0.001. Other HRV parameters did not demonstrate significant changes upon meta-analyses, but overall effect sizes showed a trend toward the expected direction. Conclusion: Based on the strength of the evidence, we conclude TC/QG interventions may shift HRV parameters toward improved health status and resilience. In addition, we offer suggestions to improve the design and measurement of future TC/QG research interventions exploring HRV.
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Larkey et al. (2024) reported a meta-analysis. Tai Chi and Qigong vs. Any control condition (active or inactive) was evaluated on High-frequency (HF) power and standard deviation of the beat-to-beat intervals (SDNN) (SMD 0.29 (HF power), SMD 0.83 (SDNN), 95% CI 0.10-0.48 (HF power), 0.16-1.51 (SDNN), p=0.003 (HF power), 0.02 (SDNN)). Tai Chi and Qigong interventions significantly improved high-frequency power (SMD 0.29; 95% CI 0.10-0.48; P=0.003) and SDNN (SMD 0.83; 95% CI 0.16-1.51; P=0.02) compared with control conditions.
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