Acute Effects of King's Whip and Ba Duan Jin Exercises on Physical and Mental Functions in the Elderly

Abstract

Chutong Y, Peepathum P, Vongchaisub TS. Acute Effects of King's Whip and Ba Duan Jin Exercises on Physical and Mental Functions in the Elderly. The rapid aging of the global population has drawn increased attention to age-related declines in physical and mental functions, such as reduced muscle mass, strength, balance, and cognitive capacity. Consequently, effective and accessible exercise programs that enhance both physical capabilities and cognitive well-being in older adults are essential. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effects of King's Whip and Ba Duan Jin exercises on the physical and mental functions of older adults. Using a crossover design, 28 participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups that alternated the exercise interventions, with a one-week rest period in between. Both groups uniformly engaged in 40 minutes of training, and movement instructions were provided before each exercise session. Data were collected on maximal and average heart rate (HRmax and HRavg), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), energy expenditure (EE), and cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Statistical analyses included paired-sample t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, with the significance level set at P < 0.05. The results indicated that the King's Whip exercise produced statistically greater HRmax, HRavg, EE, and RPE than the Ba Duan Jin exercise (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in MoCA scores between the two exercises. These findings suggest that although both exercises are beneficial, the King's Whip exercise may lead to greater improvements in strength, cardiovascular endurance, and body composition than the Ba Duan Jin exercise.