Abstract details
| Abstract-ID: | 1901 |
| Title of the paper: | THE INFLUENCE OF QIGONG ON THE BALANCE CAPABILITIES OF PRACTITIONERS |
| Authors: | Angelov, V. |
| Institution: | National Sports Academy |
| Department: | Gymnastics |
| Country: | Bulgaria |
| Abstract text | INTRODUCTION: According to various authors, the systematic practice of qigong exercises has a beneficial effect on health, reducing stress, improving balance, and more. The aim of this study is to prove the positive effect of warming up with qigong exercises on balance capabilities. The object of the study is to compare the warm-up effects between two different types of exercises: qigong and basic gymnastics. METHODS: Thirty-two students from different sports, between 20-25 years old, 16 males and 16 females, participated in the study. The balance assessment was conducted with the help of a stabilometric force platform. The Flamingo test in four conditions was used: eyes open and eyes closed with balancing on the left and right leg. Testing before and after two types of warm-ups was performed: with qigong exercises and with basic gymnastics exercises. A statistical processing of the results by descriptive analysis, Shapiro-Wilk Test, and Paired-Samples t Test was done. The effect size was calculated. Most of the differences observed in the center of gravity deviation during the balance tests were statistically significant, except for those with the left leg pre- and post-, and the right leg with eyes closed pre- and post- warm-up with basic gymnastics. RESULTS: The mean center of gravity deviation pre- and post- the two types of warm-ups was established. When using qigong exercises, the following results were found: for right leg 7.7±1.8 vs 5.7±1.4 cm, for right leg with eyes closed 12.1±4.2 vs 9.3±3.2 cm, for left leg 8±2.1 vs 6.1±1.6 cm and for left leg with eyes closed 12.2±4.4 vs 9.2±3.2 cm. The results recorded from applying a warm-up with basic gymnastics were 5.9±2.0 vs 7.0±2.0 cm for right leg, 9.5±3.1 vs 9.6±3.0 cm for right leg with eyes closed, 6.5±1.8 vs 6.8±1.8 cm for left leg and 9.4±2.2 vs 11.2±3.5 cm for left leg with eyes closed, respectively. The calculated differences showed that qigong exercises led to a decrease in this indicator for all variables: for right leg by 2 cm, for right leg with eyes closed by 2.8 cm, for left leg by 1.9 cm, and for left leg with eyes closed by 3 cm. The use of basic gymnastics exercises produced the opposite effect, as evidenced by the negative differences recorded: -1.08 cm, -0.09 cm, -0.38 cm, and -1.85 cm for right leg, right leg with eyes closed, left leg and left leg with eyes closed, respectively. The calculated large and very large effect size with values of 1.17, 1.15, 0.99 and 1.4 for the four conditions confirms the good influence of qigong on balance capabilities. The effect size of using basic gymnastics was negative with calculated values of -0.57, -0.04, -0.17, and -0.58. CONCLUSION: On th? basis of the results obtained, it can be firmly concluded that a warm-up using qigong exercises positively influences balance capabilities. This type of warm-up favours the performance of balance exercises and has a place in the training programs. Warming up with qigong is preferable to basic gymnastics when working up to balance exercises. |
| Topic: | Training and Testing |
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