Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

Title abbreviation: Adv Clin Exp Med
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Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

2007, vol. 16, nr 5, September-October, p. 675–681

Publication type: original article

Language: English

Beneficial Effects of Tai Chi on Women’s Skeletal Status Assessed by Quantitative Ultrasound at the Hand Phalanges – One−Year Follow−up Study

Korzystny wpływ ćwiczeń Tai Chi na układ kostny kobiet oceniany na podstawie ilościowej ultrasonografii paliczków – obserwacja roczna

Marek Bolanowski1,2,, Wojciech Pluskiewicz3,, Anna Skrzek2,, Janusz Bolanowski2,, Piotr Adamczyk4,

1 Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Isotope Therapy, Silesian Piasts University of Medicine in Wrocław, Poland

2 Department of Physiotherapy, University of Physical Education, Wrocław, Poland

3 Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Diseases, Diabetology, and Nephrology, Silesian University of Medicine, Katowice, Poland

4 Department of Pediatric Nephrology and Endocrinology, Silesian University of Medicine, Katowice, Poland

Abstract

Objectives. The advantageous effect of physical exercise on bones has been proven. Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) at different skeletal sites is an accepted method for indirect and noninvasive assessment of bone quality and fracture risk. Earlier, the present authors showed higher values of ultrasound transmission in the hand phalanges of a group of Polish women practicing Tai Chi. The aim of the present study was a prospective assessment of skeletal status in women practicing Tai Chi.
Material and Methods. One−year follow−up of skeletal status was assessed using QUS measurements at the hand phalanges in a group of 46 exercising women (mean age: 59.3 ± 8.7 years).
Results. At follow−up, increases in the mean amplitude−dependent speed of sound (Ad−SoS) from 1995 ± 80 to 2012 ± 75 m/s (p = 0.001) and mean Z−score from 0.673 ± 1.054 to 1.053 ± 1.178 (p = 0.0005) were observed in the exercising subjects. These changes revealed statistically significant positive correlation with subject age (r = 0.39, p = 0.007 and r = 0.35, p = 0.018, respectively). The increase in Ad−SoS exceeded the value of the “least significant change” in 19 subjects (41%) of the total group and in 2 (22%) and 17 (46%) women in the preand postmenopausal subgroups, respectively.
Conclusion. A beneficial effect of regular Tai Chi exercise on skeletal status as assessed by phalangeal QUS is observed in older women. Tai Chi gymnastics may be recommended in the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis, especially in older individuals.

Streszczenie

Wprowadzenie. Znany jest korzystny wpływ ćwiczeń fizycznych na układ kostny. Ilościowa ultrasonografia (QUS) różnych części szkieletu jest uznaną metodą pośredniej i nieinwazyjnej oceny jakości kości i zagrożenia złamaniami. We wcześniej przeprowadzonych badaniach własnych wykazano większą szybkość przechodzenia fali ultradźwięków w paliczkach rąk w grupie polskich kobiet ćwiczących Tai Chi.
Cel pracy. Prospektywna ocena za pomocą QUS układu kostnego kobiet ćwiczących Tai Chi.
Materiał i metody. Roczna obserwacja statusu kostnego została dokonana za pomocą metody QUS paliczków ręki w grupie 46 kobiet ćwiczących Tai Chi. Średnia wieku wynosiła 59.3 ± 8.7 lat.
Wyniki. Po roku ćwiczeń obserwowano zwiększenie średniej wartości zależnej od amplitudy szybkości dźwięku (Ad−SoS) z 1995 ± 80 do 2012 ± 75 m/s (p = 0,001) i średniej wartości współczynnika Z−score z 0,673 ± 1,054 do 1,053 ± 1,178 (p = 0,0005). Zmiany te wykazywały statystycznie znamienne dodatnie korelacje z wiekiem ćwiczących (odpowiednio r = 0,39, p = 0.007; i r = 0,35, p = 0,018). Przyrost wartości Ad−SoS przekraczał wartość najmniejszej znaczącej zmiany (LSC) u 19 ćwiczących (41%), w tym u 2 (22%) kobiet przed menopauzą i 17 (46%) po menopauzie.
Wnioski. Korzystny wpływ regularnych ćwiczeń Tai Chi na układ kostny oceniany przez QUS paliczków obserwuje się u starszych kobiet. Ćwiczenia Tai Chi można zalecać w profilaktyce osteoporozy pomenopauzalnej, zwłaszcza u starszych kobiet.

Key words

osteoporosis, phalanges, quantitative ultrasound, Tai Chi exercise, women

Słowa kluczowe

osteoporoza, paliczki, ilościowa ultrasonografia, ćwiczenia Tai Chi, kobiety

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