Xiaoyan Wang

This study investigates the combined effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) and Tai Chi exercise (EX) on glycolipid metabolism and endothelial function in postmenopausal women, a population at heightened risk of metabolic and vascular disorders. A total of 142 postmenopausal women aged 50-60 years were randomly assigned to one of three groups: TRE combined with Tai Chi (TRE + EX, n = 47), TRE alone (n = 47), or a control group with conventional lifestyle (CON, n = 48). The TRE protocol required participants to consume all meals within an 8-hour window for 8 weeks, while the EX protocol involved three weekly 60-minute sessions of Yang-style 24-form Tai Chi. Outcomes included glycolipid markers, such as fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol (Tot-Chol), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitric oxide (NO), and endothelin-1 (ET-1). Significant group-by-time interactions were observed for Tot-Chol (p = 0.001) and LDL-C (p = 0.003), with the TRE + EX group showing the largest reductions compared to the TRE group (p = 0.030; p = 0.003) and the CON group (p = 0.000; p = 0.050). For FMD, a significant interaction was also observed (p = 0.003). Both the TRE + EX group and the TRE group showed significant improvements in FMD compared to baseline (p = 0.005; p = 0.044). However, only the TRE + EX group demonstrated significantly higher FMD than the CON group (p = 0.003). The combination of TRE and Tai Chi was more effective in improving lipid profiles and endothelial function than TRE alone. These findings highlight the potential of integrating dietary timing with structured exercise as a strategy for enhancing metabolic and vascular health in postmenopausal women.

Objective: The resistive knee orthosis, as a novel rehabilitation device, is designed to provide resistance to joint movement during continuous walking, thereby enhancing the postoperative recovery effect. This study aims to explore the impact of such orthoses on the joint coordination patterns of martial artists after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods: A total of 44 martial artists who underwent ACL reconstruction were recruited and divided into an experimental group (EG, n = 22, using resistive braces) and a control group (CG, n = 22, using conventional braces). Assessments were conducted preoperatively (T0) and at 15 days (T1), 30 days (T2), and 60 days (T3) postoperatively. The changes in joint coordination patterns during the gait cycle were analyzed, and the ACL force was estimated using a musculoskeletal model. Results: At T2 and T3, compared with the CG, the EG exhibited a significantly larger peak knee flexion angle (p < 0.05). At T3, the EG showed higher hip–ankle in-phase coordination (p < 0.05), increased proximal hip–knee coordination (p < 0.05), and decreased knee–ankle anti-phase coordination (p < 0.05). In addition, the ACL force in the EG was significantly lower. Conclusions: The resistive knee orthosis can effectively improve the joint coordination of martial artists after ACL reconstruction and reduce the ACL force.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of acoustically screened Five-Element Music combined with traditional Chinese mind–body exercises (Taijiquan and Baduanjin) on emotion regulation, working memory, and functional brain connectivity in older adults. A randomized repeated-measures design was employed, recruiting 42 healthy older adults aged 60–70 years. Participants were assigned to five groups: Five-Element Music alone (FE), Taijiquan (TJ), Baduanjin (BDJ), Five-Element Music combined with Taijiquan (FE+TJ), and Five-Element Music combined with Baduanjin (FE+BDJ). Emotion regulation, working memory, and functional brain connectivity were assessed using an emotion regulation choice task, the N-back task, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), respectively. Five-Element Music was selected using computational acoustic methods to identify music with therapeutic effects. Significant differences were observed in the acceptance rate of emotion regulation for high-intensity unpleasant pictures across different conditions (p = 0.001). Compared to baseline, the acceptance rate was significantly higher in the FE and FE+TJ conditions (p = 0.027, p = 0.021). Moreover, the acceptance rate in the FE+TJ condition was significantly higher than in the FE condition alone (p = 0.007). Significant differences were found in the average accuracy of the 2-back task across conditions (p = 0.001), with the FE+TJ condition showing significantly higher accuracy than baseline (p = 0.005). The average reaction time in the 2-back task also differed significantly across conditions (p = 0.001), with the FE condition demonstrating a significantly lower reaction time compared to baseline and the FE+BDJ condition (p = 0.003, p = 0.001). Significant differences in functional connectivity (FC) were observed between conditions. Specifically, the FC between CH45 and CH9 and between CH29 and CH6 was significantly higher in the FE+TJ condition than in other conditions (p < 0.02). The combination of Five-Element Music and Taijiquan significantly improved emotion regulation, working memory, and prefrontal–parietal connectivity in older adults. These findings underscore the synergistic benefits of integrating auditory stimulation with mind–body exercise, offering a promising intervention for cognitive and emotional health in aging populations. Future research should investigate long-term effects and broader applications.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on lower limb muscle synergies during the single-leg hop test in martial artists after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods: Twenty-four martial artists who underwent ACL reconstruction were recruited and performed a single-leg hop test under two conditions: with NMES (ES) and without NMES (CON). The ES condition involved using Compex SP 8.0 to deliver biphasic symmetrical wave stimulation. Jump performance metrics and electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded. Muscle synergies of the lower limbs were extracted using non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) to analyze patterns of muscle coordination. Results: Compared with the CON condition, the ES condition significantly reduced the jump time (0.13 ± 0.05 vs. 0.18 ± 0.09; F = 5.660; p = 0.022) and significantly increased the contact time (0.53 ± 0.12 vs. 0.43 ± 0.21; F = 4.013; p = 0.049). Muscle synergy analysis revealed three distinct synergy patterns under both conditions. For synergy pattern 1, compared with the CON condition, the muscle weightings of the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior muscles were significantly increased under the ES condition (p < 0.001). For synergy pattern 2, compared with the CON condition, the muscle weighting of the lateral gastrocnemius muscle was significantly increased under the ES condition (p < 0.001). Additionally, the activation timing of synergy pattern 2 was significantly reduced under the ES condition (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation enhances jump performance and alters muscle synergy patterns in martial artists after ACL reconstruction. The findings suggest that NMES can promote better lower limb muscle coordination during jumping tasks, potentially aiding in postoperative rehabilitation and performance optimization.

This study examines the effects of three traditional Chinese mind–body exercises—Tai Chi (TC), Baduanjin (BD), and Health Qigong Yijinjing (YJJ)—on learning abilities, executive functions, and prefrontal brain connectivity in children with learning difficulties. Seventy-two children (aged 9–11) with learning difficulties were randomly assigned to TC, BD, YJJ, or a control group (CON). Intervention groups practiced for 12 weeks (45 min, three times per week), while the control group maintained their regular physical education. Assessments included Academic Performance Ranking (APR), Pupil Rating Scale (PRS), and executive functions. Granger causality analyses were conducted on the functional near-infrared spectroscopy data to derive the effective connectivity at the brain region levels. Post-intervention, all intervention groups showed significant improvements over the control group in PRS and APR scores (p < 0.05), with the TC group achieving higher PRS scores than the BD group. The TC group also demonstrated superior improvements in executive functions, particularly in inhibition and working memory. Additionally, the TC group exhibited significantly enhanced effective connectivity from the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to Brodmann area 8, indicating improved brain communication. Traditional Chinese mind–body exercises, particularly Tai Chi, improve academic performance, executive functions, and prefrontal cortex connectivity in children with learning difficulties. Tai Chi demonstrates superior outcomes, supporting its potential as an effective intervention for cognitive and academic development.