EFFECTS OF TAI CHI CHUAN EXERCISE ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF GENERAL PUBLIC

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine effects of Tai Chi Chuan, exercise in mind-body harmony, on general public perceptions of their physical and mental health. Two-month intervention of tai chi exercises was administered to general public and multidimensional physical (PHD) and mental (MHD) scores were assessed by using SF36v2 health survey questionnaire before and after intervention. In this study 286 people participated and took part in one-hour tai chi exercise twice week for 2 months. Normalized values of each variable and combined values of PHD and MHD before and after tai chi intervention were examined by using the paired t-test (p <0.05). The physical measurements of BP and GH and mental, RE, VT, MH improved significantly after tai chi exercise intervention. When evaluating the total values of PHD or MHD, MHD better significantly. Results have narrated that tai chi exercises had positive effects on self-rated physical & mental health. Scores for mental health appeared to be sensitive to change. The schools, colleges/universities,
and health centers might offer the tai chi as Part of ongoing physical activity programs available for students.