Effect of Chen Taichi on College Students' Physical and Psychological Health.

University of Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Physical Inactivity; Mental Health Issue

Treatments: Other: 26 styles of Chen Taichi training based on Coordination guidelines; Other: 26 styles of Chen Taichi training based on Relaxation guidelines

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05379075

Qi Fengmeng

Details and patient eligibility

About

Tai Chi is a kind of traditional martial arts in China, which has a remarkable function in healthcare. It has been used in many diseases as a complementary theory. The Chinese government attaches much importance to university students' physical and psychological health. However, there is an indisputable fact that the health condition of university students is declining, according to the report of the education ministry of China 2021. Tai Chi is a solid supplement to physical education and how to improve the physical health of university students through Tai Chi is the key to university physical education. This experimental research examines the effectiveness and the differences of two types of Chen Taichi training methods on the physical and psychological health of college students in China. Finally, to evaluate if the Chen Taichi with developed guidelines can improve the college students' physical and psychological health.

Full description

The research is a two-group randomized control experiment. The control group (CG) will accept the training of Chen Taichi under the guideline of the "three in one" theory which means the integration of slow circular movements, breath regulation, and concentration or mindfulness. The experimental group (EG) will practice Chen Taichi under relaxation theory which combines the "Body-rotation" and "Relax into Stretch". all other conditions will be kept as same as possible, such as the Chen Taichi routine.

An example of one Chen Taichi posture of EG. The arms and legs and the spine should rotate follow the arrow tips in order to cause a stretch reflex slightly. And then, the exerciser should use relaxation skills to eliminate the stretch reflex, such as exhaling, and drop the control of the body. Relax into Stretch: Instant flexibility through mastering muscle tension. The body-rotation levels should be added in steps with the process of practice. It does not need to accompany breathing except the relaxation needs to exhale. Most of the time breathing is common daily.

Content of Chen Taichi movements:

1、Preparing form 2、Buddha's Warrior attendant pounds mortar 3、Lazy about tying coat 4、Six sealing and four closing 5、Single whip 6、The white crane spreads its wings 7、Walk obliquely 8、Holding up the knee 9、The fist Cover Fist and Punch.

10、Buddha's Warrior attendant pounds mortar secondly. 11、Lean with back 12、Push both hands 13、The punch at the elbow's bottom 14、Step back and whirl arms on both sides 15、Turning back with arms twining 16、The second Cover Fist and Punch 17、Six sealing and four closings （secondly）18、Single whip（secondly）19、Wave hands 20、The dragon on the ground 21、Step forward with seven stars 22、Step back and mount the tiger 23、Double wave lotus 24、 The cannon right overhead 25、 Buddha's Warrior attendant pounds mortar thirdly 26、Closing form。

Enrollment: 76 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Males and females are college students;
• Able to finish the physical fitness test;
• Without any disease of organs;
• Age ranged from 18-30;
• Not engaged in long term exercising Taichi and other Taichi derived movements.

Exclusion criteria

• Detained and Repeated students;
• Not willing to join the research or not willing to spend club time to train;
• Disabled students;
• Involvement in other physical activity studies such as basketball matches and so on;
• Contraindications to physical activity;
• Students good at tai chi especially once studied in kids.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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76 participants in 4 patient groups

Female students of Chen Taichi training based on Relaxation guidelines

Experimental group

Description:

Relaxation theory is different from coordination. It only focuses on relaxing the body and mind to an extreme level. Previously, masters of Taichi described or taught it as "relax" or "let nature take its course." This explanation may lead to ignoring it since it is against intuition. Pavel explained the relaxation method as mastering muscle tension. The critical point of Pavel's book is the viewpoint of canceling the stretch reflection. The present study applied this viewpoint to judge the extent and rotation degree when practicing taichi. In other words, students will be taught this skill to relax their bodies when the tension comes out from low posture movements. The relaxation skills also include "dropping the control of the body," "exhale when stretching," "moving like a string puppet without muscle power," "steps like cats," and "three-line relaxation method." Duration:12 weeks. Frequency: 3 times per week. Time length: 90min+60min×2

Treatment:

Other: 26 styles of Chen Taichi training based on Relaxation guidelines

Male students of Chen Taichi training based on Relaxation guidelines

Experimental group

Description:

Relaxation theory is different from coordination. It only focuses on relaxing the body and mind to an extreme level. Previously, masters of Taichi described or taught it as "relax" or "let nature take its course." This explanation may lead to ignoring it since it is against intuition. Pavel explained the relaxation method as mastering muscle tension. The critical point of Pavel's book is the viewpoint of canceling the stretch reflection. The present study applied this viewpoint to judge the extent and rotation degree when practicing taichi. In other words, students will be taught this skill to relax their bodies when the tension comes out from low posture movements. The relaxation skills also include "dropping the control of the body," "exhale when stretching," "moving like a string puppet without muscle power," "steps like cats," and "three-line relaxation method." Duration:12 weeks. Frequency: 3 times per week. Time length: 90min+60min×2

Treatment:

Other: 26 styles of Chen Taichi training based on Relaxation guidelines

Female students of Chen Taichi training based on Coordination guidelines

Active Comparator group

Description:

Coordination theory is also called "three in one." It mainly guides exercisers to practice Taichi by integrating the mind, movements, and breathing in a unity state. Students in this group will be taught how to integrate the three requests according to the principles. The principles are "Waist axis," "Movements softy and slowly," "Inspiratory contraction and Expiratory stretch." The training will be conducted on the warming-up time by practicing a single movement and the club time by practicing a learned routine. Duration:12 weeks. Frequency: 3 times per week. Time length: 90min+60min×2

Treatment:

Other: 26 styles of Chen Taichi training based on Coordination guidelines

Male students of Chen Taichi training based on Coordination guidelines

Active Comparator group

Description:

Coordination theory is also called "three in one." It mainly guides exercisers to practice Taichi by integrating the mind, movements, and breathing in a unity state. Students in this group will be taught how to integrate the three requests according to the principles. The principles are "Waist axis," "Movements softy and slowly," "Inspiratory contraction and Expiratory stretch." The training will be conducted on the warming-up time by practicing a single movement and the club time by practicing a learned routine. Duration:12 weeks. Frequency: 3 times per week. Time length: 90min+60min×2

Treatment:

Other: 26 styles of Chen Taichi training based on Coordination guidelines