A physiological understanding underlying Metarobic effects of Tai Chi and related exercises for health and chronic conditions is an important area of research for improving wellness in society. Then there is also getting the person to actually adopt a health intervention or activity. This is where health behavior theories and models can come into play. Much of my research and education at the University of Florida involved such models and theories, which boosted attendance at public events I’ve held by tenfold or more. So in addition to sharing my research this month related to Metarobic benefits for diabetes (in honor of National Diabetes Month), I will also share my work related to using health behavior theories and models, in order to enhance adoption of a health practice or intervention.
First a brief overview of Metarobic research, and the relationship to type 2 diabetes (my next article will include some potential support for benefiting type 1 diabetes). The most important factor is potential effects on hypoxia (oxygen deficiency in the tissues), which underlies a surprisingly large number of chronic conditions, including diabetes. Metarobic research and theory documents unique effects on blood oxygen saturation, diffusion, and oxygen based metabolism (see “Tai Chi Therapy: The Science of Metarobics” for details), which can explain why slow moving breath and relaxation focused exercises can have benefits for such a wide range of chronic conditions, including diabetes.
In the case of type 2 diabetes (the most common type), the body becomes resistant to insulin. Type 2 diabetes is almost always preceded by “pre-diabetes,” in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes (but can still be damaging to the heart and circulatory system, and puts one at risk for type 2 diabetes). Diabetes is considered a metabolic disorder, which suggests that exercises such as Tai Chi may indeed have a true metabolic effect via a Metarobic action (however complications and underlying factors, such as dosage, necessitate a larger body of research to truly understand Metarobic effects on diabetic conditions). Also, since type 2 diabetes has been primarily linked to physical inactivity and being overweight, exercise (including Metarobic exercises such as walking, Yoga or Tai Chi) has been identified by the American Diabetes Association as lowering risk for type 2 diabetes, in addition to a healthy diet. And as a mindfulness based exercise, Tai Chi may have the added benefit for weight loss by enhancing conscious awareness of eating habits and triggers.
Like most of Tai Chi research, current studies are limited to the effects of 2-3 hours of Tai Chi a week, which has shown minimal or no effects on diabetes. However, Metarobic theory and collected case stories, suggest that increasing dosage (practice) to daily or even multiple times a day, may indeed have some direct effects, particularly for diabetic neuropathy. In my next article I will present research related to hypoxia and type 1 diabetes, as well as the remarkable case story of Singh. Singh stated he had accomplished actual reversal of type 1 diabetes, by increasing dosage and other elements. It should be noted that reversal of type 1 diabetes is considered by the medical community to be irreversible, since the insulin producing beta cells are considered to be completely destroyed in type 1 diabetes. His doctor suggested that despite being a type 1 diabetic for several years, that Singh must have had some beta cells remaining, which regenerated (which is still a remarkable result).
Returning to using health behavior theory for promoting the adoption of Tai Chi or other exercise for diabetes, the Health Belief Model is one of the earliest health behavior change models, developed by social psychologists in the 1950’s. In brief, and simplified form, the model consists of four basic elements – increasing perception of health threats, benefits of the intervention (in this case Tai Chi), reducing barriers, and using various cues to action (such as verbal or text messages, social support, or even advertisements and handouts), to modify the first three constructs. Using Tai Chi as an example, I had conducted focus groups consisting of older adults who had never considered trying Tai Chi, and those who were current Tai Chi practitioners. The main perceived health threats for both groups were injury or death from falling (falls from loss of balance are the leading cause of accidental death and injury in older adults), as well as memory loss, high blood pressure, and back pain. The primary perceived benefits of Tai Chi included benefits for balance, overall health, coordination, flexibility, and mental benefits. Barriers included ignorance of benefits of Tai Chi, and how Tai Chi benefits health (one participant stated that it looks like Tai Chi practitioners are waiving their hands around for no reason). Other barriers were unsuitable teacher/class format, time conflicts, and poor health (in the non Tai Chi group). Using these and other identified factors, I created a cue to action in the form of a targeted message (an announcement of a talk on Tai Chi) which addressed health threats, benefits of Tai Chi related to physiological effects, and one which addressed barriers related to lack of understanding of how and why these exercises benefit health. Typical attendance at these talks, according to the organizer, is 5 to 15 people. Over 135 people showed up to the talk. The end result, by also addressing barriers related to teacher and time, was in increase from one class of 5-10 participants, to three classes of 20-25 participants.
Using the Health Belief Model to increase adoption of Tai Chi, particularly for type 2 diabetes, is currently primarily limited to the general benefits of exercise, and the potential to use these practices as a mindfulness based activity, to enhance awareness of diet and eating cues and triggers (and as a way to reduce stress, which can be a primary trigger to overeating). The sense of mastery one gets from these exercises can also help one to master negative effects and influences, which will be elaborated on more in an upcoming book. Future research on actual Metarobic effects may also offer hope for a more direct influence on diabetic conditions, as supported by Singh’s story. Next week I will share his story, go over implications and research related to type 1 diabetes, and applications of health behavior theory related to James O. Prochaska’s Stages of Change, and the 10 Process of Change, related to the Transtheoretical Model. For references and supporting research for using Metarobic exercises for diabetes, see my book “Tai Chi Therapy: The Science of Metarobics.”
First a brief overview of Metarobic research, and the relationship to type 2 diabetes (my next article will include some potential support for benefiting type 1 diabetes). The most important factor is potential effects on hypoxia (oxygen deficiency in the tissues), which underlies a surprisingly large number of chronic conditions, including diabetes. Metarobic research and theory documents unique effects on blood oxygen saturation, diffusion, and oxygen based metabolism (see “Tai Chi Therapy: The Science of Metarobics” for details), which can explain why slow moving breath and relaxation focused exercises can have benefits for such a wide range of chronic conditions, including diabetes.
In the case of type 2 diabetes (the most common type), the body becomes resistant to insulin. Type 2 diabetes is almost always preceded by “pre-diabetes,” in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes (but can still be damaging to the heart and circulatory system, and puts one at risk for type 2 diabetes). Diabetes is considered a metabolic disorder, which suggests that exercises such as Tai Chi may indeed have a true metabolic effect via a Metarobic action (however complications and underlying factors, such as dosage, necessitate a larger body of research to truly understand Metarobic effects on diabetic conditions). Also, since type 2 diabetes has been primarily linked to physical inactivity and being overweight, exercise (including Metarobic exercises such as walking, Yoga or Tai Chi) has been identified by the American Diabetes Association as lowering risk for type 2 diabetes, in addition to a healthy diet. And as a mindfulness based exercise, Tai Chi may have the added benefit for weight loss by enhancing conscious awareness of eating habits and triggers.
Like most of Tai Chi research, current studies are limited to the effects of 2-3 hours of Tai Chi a week, which has shown minimal or no effects on diabetes. However, Metarobic theory and collected case stories, suggest that increasing dosage (practice) to daily or even multiple times a day, may indeed have some direct effects, particularly for diabetic neuropathy. In my next article I will present research related to hypoxia and type 1 diabetes, as well as the remarkable case story of Singh. Singh stated he had accomplished actual reversal of type 1 diabetes, by increasing dosage and other elements. It should be noted that reversal of type 1 diabetes is considered by the medical community to be irreversible, since the insulin producing beta cells are considered to be completely destroyed in type 1 diabetes. His doctor suggested that despite being a type 1 diabetic for several years, that Singh must have had some beta cells remaining, which regenerated (which is still a remarkable result).
Returning to using health behavior theory for promoting the adoption of Tai Chi or other exercise for diabetes, the Health Belief Model is one of the earliest health behavior change models, developed by social psychologists in the 1950’s. In brief, and simplified form, the model consists of four basic elements – increasing perception of health threats, benefits of the intervention (in this case Tai Chi), reducing barriers, and using various cues to action (such as verbal or text messages, social support, or even advertisements and handouts), to modify the first three constructs. Using Tai Chi as an example, I had conducted focus groups consisting of older adults who had never considered trying Tai Chi, and those who were current Tai Chi practitioners. The main perceived health threats for both groups were injury or death from falling (falls from loss of balance are the leading cause of accidental death and injury in older adults), as well as memory loss, high blood pressure, and back pain. The primary perceived benefits of Tai Chi included benefits for balance, overall health, coordination, flexibility, and mental benefits. Barriers included ignorance of benefits of Tai Chi, and how Tai Chi benefits health (one participant stated that it looks like Tai Chi practitioners are waiving their hands around for no reason). Other barriers were unsuitable teacher/class format, time conflicts, and poor health (in the non Tai Chi group). Using these and other identified factors, I created a cue to action in the form of a targeted message (an announcement of a talk on Tai Chi) which addressed health threats, benefits of Tai Chi related to physiological effects, and one which addressed barriers related to lack of understanding of how and why these exercises benefit health. Typical attendance at these talks, according to the organizer, is 5 to 15 people. Over 135 people showed up to the talk. The end result, by also addressing barriers related to teacher and time, was in increase from one class of 5-10 participants, to three classes of 20-25 participants.
Using the Health Belief Model to increase adoption of Tai Chi, particularly for type 2 diabetes, is currently primarily limited to the general benefits of exercise, and the potential to use these practices as a mindfulness based activity, to enhance awareness of diet and eating cues and triggers (and as a way to reduce stress, which can be a primary trigger to overeating). The sense of mastery one gets from these exercises can also help one to master negative effects and influences, which will be elaborated on more in an upcoming book. Future research on actual Metarobic effects may also offer hope for a more direct influence on diabetic conditions, as supported by Singh’s story. Next week I will share his story, go over implications and research related to type 1 diabetes, and applications of health behavior theory related to James O. Prochaska’s Stages of Change, and the 10 Process of Change, related to the Transtheoretical Model. For references and supporting research for using Metarobic exercises for diabetes, see my book “Tai Chi Therapy: The Science of Metarobics.”
RSS Feed