Psycho-Electrophysiological Benefits of Forest Therapies Focused on Qigong and Walking with Elderly Individuals

Jiyune Yi, Seul Gee Kim, Taegyu Khil, Minja Shin, Jin-Hee You, Sookja Jeon, Gue Hong Park, Ah Young Jeong, Youngsuwn Lim, Kahye Kim, Jingun Kim, Byunghoon Kang, Jueun Lee, Jeong Hwan Park, Boncho Ku, Jungmi Choi, Wonseok Cha, Hwa-Jin Lee, Changseob Shin, Wonsop Shin and Jaeuk U. Kim
Additional contact information
Jiyune Yi: Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
Seul Gee Kim: Future Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Korea
Taegyu Khil: Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
Minja Shin: Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
Jin-Hee You: Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
Sookja Jeon: Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
Gue Hong Park: Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
Ah Young Jeong: Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
Youngsuwn Lim: Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
Kahye Kim: Future Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Korea
Jingun Kim: Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
Byunghoon Kang: Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
Jueun Lee: Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
Jeong Hwan Park: Future Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Korea
Boncho Ku: Future Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Korea
Jungmi Choi: Human Anti-Aging Standards Research Institute, Uiryeong, Gyungnam 52151, Korea
Wonseok Cha: Human Anti-Aging Standards Research Institute, Uiryeong, Gyungnam 52151, Korea
Hwa-Jin Lee: Acupuncture & Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
Changseob Shin: Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
Wonsop Shin: Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
Jaeuk U. Kim: Future Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: We developed two distinct forest therapy programs (FTPs) and compared their effects on dementia prevention and related health problems for older adults. One was focused on Qigong practice in the forest (QP) and the other involved active walking in the forest (WP). Both FTPs consisted of twelve 2-h sessions over six weeks and were conducted in an urban forest. We obtained data from 25, 18, and 26 participants aged 65 years or above for the QP, WP, and control groups, respectively. Neuropsychological scores via cognition (MoCA), geriatric depression (GDS) and quality of life (EQ-5D), and electrophysiological variables (electroencephalography, bioimpedance, and heart rate variability) were measured. We analyzed the intervention effects with a generalized linear model. Compared to the control group, the WP group showed benefits in terms of neurocognition (increases in the MoCA score, and alpha and beta band power values in the electroencephalogram), sympathetic nervous activity, and bioimpedance in the lower body. On the other hand, the QP group showed alleviated depression and an increased bioimpedance phase angle in the upper body. In conclusion, both active walking and Qigong in the forest were shown to have distinctive neuropsychological and electrophysiological benefits, and both had beneficial effects in terms of preventing dementia and relieving related health problems for elderly individuals.

Keywords: forest therapy; cognitive impairment; dementia; Qigong; walking in the forest; psychology; electrophysiology; electroencephalography; heart rate variability; bioimpedance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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