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Impact of a 10-Week Qigong Exercise Programme on Heart and Respiratory Rates of Male Hypertensive Members in Imo State, Nigeria

Philomena Nwabundo Ngozi Ugo

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a 10-week qigong exercise programme on resting heart rate and respiratory rate of male hypertensive members of Recreation Clubs in Owerri Municipal Council of Imo State. The study was guided by two research questions and two corresponding null hypotheses. The study adopted randomized pretest – posttest control group design. In this multivariable trial; 144 male hypertensive members constituted the population of the study, and 40 volunteers were used as the sample size of the study. The instruments used for the study were Stethoscope models LG300 and HG900 to measure heart rate and respiratory rate. These instruments are all standardized health instruments. Five qigong exercises; Pulling toes with both hands, turning head to look over the shoulder, shooting arrow on horseback, Respiration in bending position and Breathing in side-lunge position while raising arm were administered in accordance with exercise training phases. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions while the Analysis of Covariance was used to test the research hypotheses at 5% level of significance. After the successful 10-week qigong exercise programme on male hypertensive, the findings of this study revealed that the qigong exercise programme reduced resting heart rate and resting respiratory rate of male hypertensive members of Recreation Clubs from 93.16 to 67.37 with a mean difference of 25.79 beats per minutes and 21.84 to 15.37 with a mean difference of 6.47 breaths per minute respectively. The hypotheses that there is no significant effect of a 10-week qigong exercise programme on the resting heart rate and respiratory rate of male hypertensive members of Recreation Clubs in Owerri Municipal Council of Imo State were rejected (p < 0.05). Based on the findings, the researcher made some vital recommendations among others that: qigong exercise, being an active and acceptable form of physical activity for hypertensive patients, should be incorporated into strategies for the improvement of cardio-respiratory fitness and reduction of possible development of any form of/or more cardiovascular diseases and suggested areas for further research. .

Keywords

Qigong exercise programmeresting heart rateresting respiratory ratemale hypertensive membersRecreation Clubs. www.ijee.io

References

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She holds PhDs from Imo State University and Ebonyi State University, and has also earned multiple degrees including a Master's in Education from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Throughout her career, Philomena has been recognized for her excellence, earning several awards such as the Victo Ludorum Student Award and the Golden Mother Award, alongside being honored with various community awards for her leadership and service. Philomena has contributed significantly to academic literature, authoring several book chapters, journal articles, and books. Her research focuses on educational assessment, health education, and the application of innovative evaluation techniques. Some of her notable works include studies on the impact of school safety on student achievement, and the use of digital data collection tools in health education research. She has presented her research at numerous national and international conferences, further solidifying her reputation as a leading expert in her field. A committed member of various professional organizations such as Association of Educational Researchers and Evaluators of Nigeria (ASSEREN), Educational Assessment and Research Network in Africa, Forum of South East Academic Doctors , etc., Philomena has also made notable contributions to the academic community as a lecturer. She has served in numerous teaching and administrative roles, educating students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In addition to her academic career, she has been an active community leader, holding leadership roles in various organizations and serving as a mentor to many.

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