TY - JOUR T1 - Physiological responses to Tai Chi in stable patients with COPD JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 42 IS - Suppl 57 SP - P1921 AU - H.X. Guo AU - Z.H. Qiu AU - N.S. Zhong AU - M.I. Polkey AU - Y.M. Luo Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1921.abstract N2 - Background: The physiological value of Taichi as a useful mode of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD remains poorly understood, especially in comparison with the generally accepted threshold of 60% of maximal load which is considered necessary for pulmonary rehabilitation.Methods: Taichi exercise and constant treadmill exercise at 60% of maximal load were performed in random order in 11 patients with COPD. Diaphragm EMG and esophageal pressure, oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, respiratory rate were continually measured during exercise. Inspiratory capacity was also measured before and immediately after exercise.Results: Mean diaphragm EMG and esophageal pressure over the Taichi exercise were similar to those over the treadmill exercise (113±57μV vs 119±56μV for diaphragm EMG and 21.4±7.7 cm H2O vs 23.8±7.0 cm H2O for esophageal pressure). Tidal volume at the end of exercise after Taichi was significantly higher than that after treadmill walking (1.2±0.5 L vs 1.0±0.3 L) while respiratory frequency at the end of treadmill exercise (30±6 times/m) was higher than that at the end of Taichi (25±4 times/m), although oxygen uptake was not significantlty different between Taichi and treadmill exercise. A fall in inspiratory capacity after treadmill exercise was larger that that after taichi exercise (0.34 vs 0.19 L).Conclusions: Taichi produced a similar degree of work as constant rate treadmill exercise at 60% of maximal load; but Taichi was characterized by a greater increase in tidal volume less increase in respiratory rate and dynamic hyperinflation. Taichi is useful for pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD. ER -