Effects of a Tai Chi dance intervention on the autonomic nervous system in university students

The aim of this study was to explore whether a 16-week Tai Chi dance intervention can effectively prevent excessive declines in heart rate variability (HRV) at rest. The findings of this study could help provide a reliable interventional strategy for the prevention of sudden cardiac death.

For this study, we selected a stratified random sample of 42 freshmen from the 1370 students who enrolled at the Yan'an University on September 1, 2023, and we randomly assigned them to the intervention and control groups (n = 21/group). We used a 16-week intervention that involved practicing Tai Chi dance for 20 min/d, 4 times/wk. The subjects underwent HRV tests in a resting state pre-interventionally (0 week), mid-interventionally (8 weeks), and post-interventionally (16 weeks). The obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis.

There were no statistically significant differences in the pre-interventional HRV indicators between the control and intervention groups (P > .05). Post-interventionally, the HRV indicators, namely, standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals, the low frequency component, and HRV index were significantly different between the control and intervention groups (P < .05).

A 16-week Tai Chi dance intervention may be an effective means to prevent excessive declines in HRV at rest, and it could be a reliable interventional strategy for the prevention of sudden cardiac death.