Effects of Tai Chi and running on blood oxygen saturation: a pilot study

P. Anthony Gryffin; Rafael E. Diaz

doi:10.1515/jcim-2020-0306

Article

Effects of Tai Chi and running on blood oxygen saturation: a pilot study

P. Anthony Gryffin and Rafael E. Diaz

Published/Copyright: April 1, 2021

Published by

Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Submit Manuscript Author Information Explore this Subject

From the journal Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Volume 18 Issue 4

Abstract

Objectives

Large drops in blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) to levels as low as 84% was observed following Tai Chi practice, during a study on the effects of Tai Chi on SpO2. The objectives of the current pilot study were to determine if this was a statistically significant drop, and how SpO2 levels compared to an aerobic activity such as running, in pre, concurrent, and post measurements.

Methods

Repeated measures of blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) were taken of a 50-year-old male before, during and for 1 min after TC and running.

Results

Measurements of SpO2 before, during, and after TC resulted in a statistically significant increase in SpO2 during TC (p=1.69e-06), and a statistically significant (p=1.71e-06) brief momentary drop from resting levels, as low as 87% SpO2. Running showed no significant change in pre and post levels, with a significant change and decrease in SpO2 during running (p=1.1e-08), suggesting increased oxygen use by the large muscle groups during exercise. SpO2 returned to normal resting levels following running with no post drop. Results suggest a higher rate of oxygen metabolism during TC, with a potential effect on hypoxic (oxygen deficient) areas of the body.

Conclusions

Findings suggest direct and unique effects on enhanced blood oxygen saturation and oxygen metabolism, which may underlie benefits for conditions complicated by hypoxia, including cardiopulmonary disease, immunity, chronic pain, and arthritis.

Keywords: blood oxygen saturation; exercise; hypoxia; running; Tai Chi

Corresponding author: P. Anthony Gryffin, Allied Health, Cosumnes River College, Sacramento, CA, USA, E-mail: drgryffin@gmail.com

Research funding: None declared.
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Competing interests: No funding organizations played a role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.
Ethical statement: Approval for the study was obtained from an Institutional Review Board prior to data collection, and informed consent was obtained.

References

1. Gryffin, PA. Qi: implications for a new paradigm of exercise. Integr Med 2013;12:36–40.Search in Google Scholar

2. Mayo Clinic. Hypoxemia. Available from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/hypoxemia/basics/definition/sym-20050930 [Accessed 12 Mar 2018].Search in Google Scholar

3. Chan, AWK, Lee, A, Suen, LKP, Tam, WWS. Tai Chi Qigong improves lung functions and activity tolerance in COPD clients: a single blind, randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Med 2011;19:3–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2010.12.007.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

4. Wang, C, Collet, JP, Lau, J. The effect of Tai Chi on health outcomes in patients with chronic conditions: a systematic review. Arch Intern Med 2004;164:493–50. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.164.5.493.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

5. Irwin, MR, Pike, JL, Cole, JC, Oxman, MN. Effects of a behavioral intervention, Tai Chi Chih, on varicella-zoster virus specific immunity and health functioning in older adults. Psychosom Med 2003;65:824–30. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000088591.86103.8f.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

6. Yang, Y, Verkuilen, J, Rosengren, KS, Mariani, RA, Reed, M, Grubisich, SA, et al.. Effects of a Taiji and Qigong intervention on the antibody response to influenza vaccine in older adults. Am J Chin Med 2007;35:597–607. https://doi.org/10.1142/s0192415x07005090.Search in Google Scholar

7. Yeh, SH, Chuang, H, Lin, LW, Hsiao, CY, Eng, HL. Regular Tai Chi chuan exercise enhances functional mobility and CD4CD25 regulatory T cells. Br J Sports Med 2006;40:239–43. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2005.022095.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

8. Abbott, RB, Hui, KK, Hays, RD, Li, MD, Pan, T. A randomized controlled trial of Tai Chi for tension headaches. Evidence-based Complement Altern Med 2007;4:107–13. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nel050.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

9. Wang, C, Schmid, CH, Hibberd, PL, Kalish, R, Roubenoff, R, Rones, R, et al.. Tai Chi is effective in treating knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Care Res 2009;61:1545–53. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.24832.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

10. Kong, LJ, Lauche, R, Klose, P, Bu, JH, Yang, XC, Guo, CQ, et al.. Tai Chi for chronic pain conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Sci Rep 2016;6:25325. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep25325.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

11. Hall, A, Maher, C, Latimer, J, Ferreira, M. The effectiveness of Tai Chi for chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arthritis Care Res 2017;97:227–38. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20160246.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

12. Han, A, Judd, M, Welch, V, Wu, T, Tugwell, P, Wells, GA. Tai Chi for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;3:CD004849. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd004849.Search in Google Scholar

13. Hall, AM, Maher, CG, Lam, P, Ferreira, M, Latimer, J. Tai Chi exercise for treatment of pain and disability in people with persistent low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Care Res 2009;10:55. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-10-55.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

14. Uhlig, T, Fongen, C, Steen, E, Christie, A, Degård, S. Exploring Tai Chi in rheumatoid arthritis: a quantitative and qualitative study. BMC Muscoskelet Disord 2010;11:43. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-11-43.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

15. Budweiser, S, Jörres, RA, Pfeifer, M. Treatment of respiratory failure in COPD. Int J COPD 2008;3:605–18. https://doi.org/10.2147/copd.s3814.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

16. Brown, E, Taylor, CT. Hypoxia-sensitive pathways in intestinal inflammation. J Physiol 2018;596:2985–9. https://doi.org/10.1113/jp274350.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

17. Schaible, B, Schaffer, K, Taylor, CT. Hypoxia, innate immunity and infection in the lung. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2010;174:235–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2010.08.006.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

18. Sica, A, Melillo, G, Varesio, L. Hypoxia: a double-edged sword of immunity. J Mol Med 2011;89:657–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-011-0724-8.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

19. Quiñonez-Flores, CM, González-Chávez, SA, Pacheco-Tena, C. Hypoxia and its implications in rheumatoid arthritis. J Biomed Sci 2016;23:62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-016-0281-0.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

20. De Mos, M, Sturkenboom, MCJM, Huygen, FJPM. Current understandings on complex regional pain syndrome. Pain Pract 2009;9:86–99. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-2500.2009.00262.x.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

21. Goebel, A. Complex regional pain syndrome in adults. Rheumatology 2011;50:1739–50. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/ker202.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

22. Kent, BD, Mitchell, PD, Mcnicholas, WT. Hypoxemia in patients with COPD: cause, effects, and disease progression. Int J COPD 2011;6:199–208.10.2147/COPD.S10611Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

23. Knowles, H. Hypoxic regulation of osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption activity. Hypoxia 2010;24:4648–59. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.10.162230.Search in Google Scholar

24. Kominsky, DJ, Campbell, EL, Colgan, SP. Metabolic shifts in immunity and inflammation. J Immunol 2010;184:4062–8. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.0903002.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

25. Lee, AK, Hester, RB, Coggin, JH, Gottlieb, SF. Increased oxygen tensions influence subset composition of the cellular immune system in aged mice. Cancer Biother 1994;9:39–54. https://doi.org/10.1089/cbr.1994.9.39.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

26. Noël-Jorand, MC, Bragard, D, Plaghki, L. Pain perception under chronic high-altitude hypoxia. Eur J Neurosci 1996:2075–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-9568.1996.tb00728.x.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

27. Robbins, JR, Lee, SM, Filipovich, AH, Petrovic, M, Conforti, L. Hypoxia modulates early events in T cell receptor-mediated activation in human T lymphocytes via Kv1.3 channels. J Physiol 2005;564:131–43. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2004.081893.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

28. Gryffin, PA, Chen, WW, Chaney, BH, Dodd, VJ, Roberts, B. Facilitators and barriers to Tai Chi in the older adult population: a focus group study. J Health Educ 2015;46:109–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/19325037.2014.999964.Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2020-08-30

Accepted: 2020-10-21

Published Online: 2021-04-01

You are currently not able to access this content.

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2020-0306

Keywords for this article

blood oxygen saturation; exercise; hypoxia; running; Tai Chi