{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,12]],"date-time":"2026-03-12T08:42:46Z","timestamp":1773304966322,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"17","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,8]],"date-time":"2024-09-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1725753600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>(1) Background: This study utilized a 24-week intervention incorporating heart rate sensors for real-time monitoring of intervention training, aiming to comprehensively assess the effects of Tai Chi on vascular endothelial function, atherosclerosis progression, and lipid metabolism. The insights gained may inform personalized non-pharmacological interventions to enhance the management of cardiovascular health in this population to provide sustainable benefits and improve quality of life. (2) Methods: Forty postmenopausal middle-aged and elderly women were randomly assigned to an exercise or control group. The exercise group underwent a 24-week Tai Chi (BaFa WuBu) training intervention with real-time heart rate monitoring using Polar sensors. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included body composition, blood pressure, vascularity, and blood parameters measured with the Inbody 720, Vascular Endothelial Function Detector, and Arteriosclerosis. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and mixed-design ANOVA to assess the effects of time, group, and their interactions on study outcomes. (3) Results: After training through 24 weeks of Tai Chi (BaFa WuBu) intervention, compared with the control group, systolic blood pressure in the exercise group was significantly lower (p &lt; 0.05), and the difference between left and right arm pulse pressure, left and right ankle mean arterial pressure, left and right side baPWV, left and right side ABI, TC, TG, LDL, and blood pressure viscosity were all very significantly lower (p &lt; 0.01), and the diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05). Compared with baseline values in the exercise group, systolic blood pressure, right and left arm pulse pressure difference, right and left ankle mean arterial pressure, right and left side baPWV, right and left side ABI, TC, TG, LDL, and blood pressure viscosity decreased very significantly (p &lt; 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure and FMD increased very significantly (p &lt; 0.01) in the exercise group after the intervention. (4) Conclusions: In our study, a 24-week Tai Chi (BaFa WuBu) program significantly improved vascular health in middle-aged and older postmenopausal women. This simplified Tai Chi form is gentle and effective, ideal for older adults. Regular practice led to reduced vascular obstruction, improved lipid metabolism, and enhanced vascular endothelial function, crucial for preventing vascular diseases. The real-time heart rate sensors used were pivotal, enabling precise monitoring and adjustment of exercise intensity, thereby enhancing the study\u2019s scientific rigor and supporting Tai Chi (BaFa WuBu) as a beneficial therapeutic exercise.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s24175832","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,9]],"date-time":"2024-09-09T05:06:06Z","timestamp":1725858366000},"page":"5832","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Impact of a Precision Intervention for Vascular Health in Middle-Aged and Older Postmenopausal Women Using Polar Heart Rate Sensors: A 24-Week RCT Study Based on the New Compilation of Tai Chi (Bafa Wubu)"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"24","author":[{"given":"Xiaona","family":"Wang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Chinese WuShu Academy, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China"}]},{"given":"Yanli","family":"Han","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chinese WuShu Academy, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China"}]},{"given":"Haojie","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200483, China"}]},{"given":"Xin","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Physical Education College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 451000, China"}]},{"given":"Guixian","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chinese WuShu Academy, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1134\/S2079057019020061","article-title":"Prospects of the Application of Buccal Epithelium for Noninvasive Diagnosis of Coronary Heart Disease in People of Different Ages","volume":"9","author":"Bunin","year":"2019","journal-title":"Adv. Gerontol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"You, Q., Yu, L., Li, G., He, H., and Lv, Y. (2022). Effects of Different Intensities and Durations of Aerobic Exercise on Vascular Endothelial Function in Middle-Aged and Elderly People: A Meta-analysis. Front. Physiol., 12.","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2021.803102"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.3233\/JRS-195052","article-title":"Prevalence and types of potentially inappropriate prescriptions among older and middle-aged community-dwelling Albanian patients","volume":"31","author":"Harasani","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Risk Saf. Med."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4692","DOI":"10.1210\/jc.2012-2244","article-title":"Endothelial function is impaired across the stages of the menopause transition in healthy women","volume":"97","author":"Moreau","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e146","DOI":"10.1161\/CIR.0000000000000485","article-title":"Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2017 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association","volume":"135","author":"Benjamin","year":"2017","journal-title":"Circulation"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"326","DOI":"10.1634\/theoncologist.1-5-326","article-title":"Prophylactic Oophorectomy: Reducing the U.S. Death Rate from Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. A Continuing Debate","volume":"1","author":"Piver","year":"1996","journal-title":"Oncologist"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"831","DOI":"10.1007\/s10654-018-0374-z","article-title":"Lifestyle factors, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in middle-aged and elderly women: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"33","author":"Colpani","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eur. J. Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"612","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cct.2005.09.010","article-title":"Baseline characteristics of menopausal women with coronary heart disease in cardiovascular outcomes clinical trials of menopausal hormone therapy or raloxifene","volume":"26","author":"Wenger","year":"2005","journal-title":"Contemp. Clin. Trials"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.1080\/13697137.2016.1198574","article-title":"Cardiovascular risk assessment in women\u2014An update","volume":"19","author":"Collins","year":"2016","journal-title":"Climacteric  J. Int. Menopause Soc."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"e39069","article-title":"Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Association With Menopausal Symptoms in Post-Menopausal Women: A Scoping Review","volume":"15","author":"Raman","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1042\/CS20040262","article-title":"Contribution of prostanoids to endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in the digital circulation of women with primary Raynaud\u2019s disease","volume":"109","author":"Easter","year":"2005","journal-title":"Clin. Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1016\/j.maturitas.2023.01.006","article-title":"Effect of menopause and age on vascular impairment","volume":"169","author":"Aittokallio","year":"2023","journal-title":"Maturitas"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1437","DOI":"10.1097\/HJH.0b013e328360f755","article-title":"Sex differences in noninvasive vascular function in the community","volume":"31","author":"Schnabel","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Hypertens."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1016\/j.maturitas.2023.05.004","article-title":"Menopausal symptoms and cardiometabolic risk factors in middle-aged women: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study with 4-year follow-up","volume":"174","author":"Karvanen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Maturitas"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3134","DOI":"10.1080\/01443615.2022.2106829","article-title":"Impact of perimenopausal symptomatology on quality of life in Mongolian women","volume":"42","author":"Choijamts","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Obstet. Gynaecol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1468","DOI":"10.1016\/0735-1097(94)90141-4","article-title":"Endothelium-dependent dilation in the systemic arteries of asymptomatic subjects relates to coronary risk factors and their interaction","volume":"24","author":"Celermajer","year":"1994","journal-title":"J. Am. Coll. Cardiol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"306","DOI":"10.31083\/j.rcm2411306","article-title":"Advancements in the Regulation of Different-Intensity Exercise Interventions on Arterial Endothelial Function","volume":"24","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Rev. Cardiovasc. Med."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"912","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjmed.2004.06.047","article-title":"Fitness versus physical activity patterns in predicting mortality in men","volume":"117","author":"Myers","year":"2004","journal-title":"Am. J. Med."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"289","DOI":"10.1161\/ATVBAHA.108.182279","article-title":"Estrogen and mechanisms of vascular protection","volume":"29","author":"Xing","year":"2009","journal-title":"Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"543","DOI":"10.1016\/j.numecd.2005.09.004","article-title":"Effects of moderate-intensity exercise training on plasma biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in older patients with type 2 diabetes","volume":"16","author":"Zoppini","year":"2006","journal-title":"Nutr. Metab. Cardiovasc. Dis."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"132","DOI":"10.1182\/blood-2018-01-769018","article-title":"Willebrand factor regulation of blood vessel formation","volume":"132","author":"Randi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Blood"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"H1386","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpheart.00468.2023","article-title":"The effects of water-based circuit exercise training on vascular function in people with coronary heart disease","volume":"325","author":"Scheer","year":"2023","journal-title":"Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e15817","DOI":"10.7717\/peerj.15817","article-title":"Analysis of technical characteristics of typical lower limb balance movements in Tai Chi: A cross-sectional study based on AnyBody bone muscle modeling","volume":"11","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"PeerJ"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107026","DOI":"10.1016\/j.isci.2023.107026","article-title":"An RCT-reticulated meta-analysis of six MBE therapies affecting college students\u2019 negative psychology","volume":"26","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"iScience"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e15036","DOI":"10.7717\/peerj.15036","article-title":"Newly compiled Tai Chi (Bafa Wubu) promotes lower extremity exercise: A preliminary cross sectional study","volume":"11","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"PeerJ"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1104","DOI":"10.1016\/j.metabol.2014.05.007","article-title":"A six-month exercise intervention in subclinical diabetic heart disease: Effects on exercise capacity, autonomic and myocardial function","volume":"63","author":"Sacre","year":"2014","journal-title":"Metabolism"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"343","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1748-1716.2011.02329.x","article-title":"Effects on blood pressure and autonomic nervous system function of a 12-week exercise or exercise plus DASH-diet intervention in individuals with elevated blood pressure","volume":"203","author":"Edwards","year":"2011","journal-title":"Acta Physiol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"466","DOI":"10.1080\/02701367.2021.2008293","article-title":"Heart Rate Responses and Cardiovascular Adaptations to Resistance Training Programs Differing in Set Configuration: A Randomized Controlled Trial","volume":"94","author":"Aracama","year":"2023","journal-title":"Res. Q. Exerc. Sport"},{"key":"ref_29","first-page":"378","article-title":"Health Outcomes of Physical Activity Interventions in Adults With Down Syndrome: A Systematic Review","volume":"40","author":"Ballenger","year":"2023","journal-title":"Adapt. Phys. Act. Q."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1007\/s10484-015-9293-x","article-title":"Physical Activity, Mindfulness Meditation, or Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback for Stress Reduction: A Randomized Controlled Trial","volume":"40","author":"Huizink","year":"2015","journal-title":"Appl. Psychophysiol. Biofeedback"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1099","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0033-1343408","article-title":"Aerobic Exercise Affects T-wave Alternans and Heart Rate Variability in Postmenopausal Women","volume":"34","author":"Shen","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"335","DOI":"10.3102\/10769986027004335","article-title":"Sample Size Requirements for Testing and Estimating Coefficient Alpha","volume":"27","author":"Bonett","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Educ. Behav. Stat."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"de Andrade, P.E., Zangirolami-Raimundo, J., Morais, T.C., De Abreu, L.C., Siqueira, C.E., Sorpreso IC, E., Soares J\u00fanior, J.M., and Raimundo, R.D. (2023). Cardiac Behavior and Heart Rate Variability in Elderly Hypertensive Individuals during Aerobic Exercise: A Non-Randomized Controlled Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 20.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20021292"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cebula, A., Tyka, A.K., Tyka, A., Pa\u0142ka, T., Pilch, W., Luty, L., and Mucha, D. (2020). Physiological response and cardiorespiratory adaptation after a 6-week Nordic Walking training targeted at lipid oxidation in a group of post-menopausal women. PLoS ONE, 15.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0230917"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1259","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-009-1330-0","article-title":"The effect of 48 weeks of aerobic exercise training on cutaneous vasodilator function in post-menopausal females","volume":"108","author":"Hodges","year":"2010","journal-title":"Eur. J. Appl. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.1042\/CS20030229","article-title":"Effects of age and physical fitness on microcirculatory function","volume":"106","author":"Franzoni","year":"2004","journal-title":"Clin. Sci."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"432","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopha.2004.08.009","article-title":"Plasma antioxidant activity and cutaneous microvascular endothelial function in athletes and sedentary controls","volume":"58","author":"Franzoni","year":"2004","journal-title":"Biomed. Pharmacother."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"172","DOI":"10.1161\/HYPERTENSIONAHA.107.089797","article-title":"Diastolic blood pressure and mortality in the elderly with cardiovascular disease","volume":"50","author":"Protogerou","year":"2007","journal-title":"Hypertension"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"884","DOI":"10.7326\/0003-4819-144-12-200606200-00005","article-title":"Dogma disputed: Can aggressively lowering blood pressure in hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease be dangerous?","volume":"144","author":"Messerli","year":"2006","journal-title":"Ann. Intern. Med."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1696","DOI":"10.1289\/ehp.10350","article-title":"Cumulative Community-Level Lead Exposure and Pulse Pressure: The Normative Aging Study","volume":"115","author":"Perlstein","year":"2007","journal-title":"Environ. Health Perspect."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"485","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ihj.2017.02.006","article-title":"Comparison of yoga and walking-exercise on cardiac time intervals as a measure of cardiac function in elderly with increased pulse pressure","volume":"69","author":"Patil","year":"2017","journal-title":"Indian Heart J."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1338","DOI":"10.1016\/j.metabol.2009.04.018","article-title":"Effects of endurance training on cardiorespiratory fitness and substrate partitioning in postmenopausal women","volume":"58","author":"Zarins","year":"2009","journal-title":"Metab. Clin. Exp."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"03000605211068720","DOI":"10.1177\/03000605211068720","article-title":"Blood pressure and cognitive function among older adults in India","volume":"50","author":"Farron","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Int. Med. Res."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1351","DOI":"10.1161\/01.CIR.102.12.1351","article-title":"Regular aerobic exercise prevents and restores age-related declines in endothelium-dependent vasodilation in healthy men","volume":"102","author":"DeSouza","year":"2000","journal-title":"Circulation"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1956","DOI":"10.1161\/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.043851","article-title":"Association of physical activity with vascular endothelial function and intima-media thickness","volume":"124","author":"Pahkala","year":"2011","journal-title":"Circulation"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"766","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.01028.2007","article-title":"Exercise and cardiovascular risk reduction: Time to update the rationale for exercise?","volume":"105","author":"Green","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Appl. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"SJ1041","DOI":"10.35848\/1347-4065\/acbf5d","article-title":"Internal pressure dependence on viscoelasticity of arterial wall by ultrasonic measurement","volume":"62","author":"Suzuki","year":"2023","journal-title":"Jpn. J. Appl. Phys."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"312","DOI":"10.1111\/sms.13574","article-title":"The effect of interval sprinting exercise on vascular function and aerobic fitness of post-menopausal women","volume":"30","author":"Ho","year":"2020","journal-title":"Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1016\/j.atherosclerosis.2013.07.002","article-title":"The effect of exercise training on ankle-brachial index in type 2 diabetes","volume":"230","author":"Gibbs","year":"2013","journal-title":"Atherosclerosis"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"552","DOI":"10.1080\/13697137.2022.2097865","article-title":"Effects of exercise on vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"25","author":"Liu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Climacteric J. Int. Menopause Soc."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kotlyarov, S. (2021). Diversity of Lipid Function in Atherogenesis: A Focus on Endothelial Mechanobiology. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 22.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms222111545"},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e12880","DOI":"10.1111\/and.12880","article-title":"Aerobic exercise blocks interleukin-6 levels and germ cell apoptosis in obese rats","volume":"50","author":"Li","year":"2018","journal-title":"Andrologia"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"901","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-009-1078-6","article-title":"Lipoprotein profile, glycemic control and physical fitness after strength and aerobic training in post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes","volume":"106","author":"Christos","year":"2009","journal-title":"Eur. J. Appl. Physiol."}],"container-title":["Sensors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/24\/17\/5832\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T15:51:37Z","timestamp":1760111497000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/24\/17\/5832"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,8]]},"references-count":53,"journal-issue":{"issue":"17","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,9]]}},"alternative-id":["s24175832"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/s24175832","relation":{},"ISSN":["1424-8220"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1424-8220","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,8]]}}}