Measurement And Evaluation Of Energy Expenditure About Tai Chi Chuan

Purpose: In this paper the characteristics and correlative factors of the energy expenditure of the simplified 24 forms of the Yang style Tai Chi Chuan were explored and studied by measuring the rest energy expenditure and that during training in practitioners of this kind of Tai Chi Chuan. The purpose is to provide the reasonable recommended training load and evaluation criteria for designing exercise prescriptions to guide the body-building of the mass scientifically.Methods: By applying the indirect calorimetry the rest energy expenditure and that during training were measured in 155 Tai Chi Chuan practitioners (72 males and 83 females). According to such correlative factors as the sex, age, weight, body composition, the characteristics and correlative factors of the rest energy expenditure and that during training as well as the correlative factors were analyzed.Conclusion:1. The energy expeniture is influenced by sex, age, weight, body fat percentage, fat-free mass and BMI, especially the fat-free mass.2. This simplified 24 forms of the Yang style Tai Chi Chuan is an aerobic exercise of low intensity. The range of the heart rate during exercise is 90 to 115 beats per minute. The HRmax in groups of 20 to 39, 40 to 59 and above 60 years of age are 50 ~ 60 %, 55 ~ 65% and 60~75%, respectively. Therefore, this kind of exercise is suitable to old men.3. The rest energy expenditure of the Tai Chi Chuan practitioners was 1.1 to 1.5 METs per minute. But during exercise it was 2.2 to 2.8 METs per minute.4. The duration of recovery after Tai Chi Chuan exercise was about 3 to 5 minutes, at which the energy expenditure accounts for 1/7 to 1/5 of the total energy expenditure.