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Volume 18
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Article

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

by
Jiyune Yi
1,
Seul Gee Kim
2,
Taegyu Khil
1,
Minja Shin
1,
Jin-Hee You
1,
Sookja Jeon
1,
Gue Hong Park
1,
Ah Young Jeong
1,
Youngsuwn Lim
1,
Kahye Kim
2,
Jingun Kim
1,
Byunghoon Kang
1,
Jueun Lee
1,
Jeong Hwan Park
2,
Boncho Ku
2,
Jungmi Choi
3,
Wonseok Cha
3,
Hwa-Jin Lee
4,
Changseob Shin
1,
Wonsop Shin
1,* and
Jaeuk U. Kim
2,*add Show full author list remove Hide full author list
1
Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheonngju, Chungbuk 28644, Korea
2
Future Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Korea
3
Human Anti-Aging Standards Research Institute, Uiryeong, Gyungnam 52151, Korea
4
Acupuncture & Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 3004; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063004
Submission received: 20 January 2021 / Revised: 28 February 2021 / Accepted: 9 March 2021 / Published: 15 March 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest for Human Health and Welfare)
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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 forest therapy; cognitive impairment; dementia; Qigong; walking in the forest; psychology; electrophysiology; electroencephalography; heart rate variability; bioimpedance

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MDPI and ACS Style

Yi, J.; Kim, S.G.; Khil, T.; Shin, M.; You, J.-H.; Jeon, S.; Park, G.H.; Jeong, A.Y.; Lim, Y.; Kim, K.; et al. Psycho-Electrophysiological Benefits of Forest Therapies Focused on Qigong and Walking with Elderly Individuals. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 3004. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063004

AMA Style

Yi J, Kim SG, Khil T, Shin M, You J-H, Jeon S, Park GH, Jeong AY, Lim Y, Kim K, et al. Psycho-Electrophysiological Benefits of Forest Therapies Focused on Qigong and Walking with Elderly Individuals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(6):3004. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063004

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yi, Jiyune, Seul Gee Kim, Taegyu Khil, Minja Shin, Jin-Hee You, Sookja Jeon, Gue Hong Park, Ah Young Jeong, Youngsuwn Lim, Kahye Kim, and et al. 2021. "Psycho-Electrophysiological Benefits of Forest Therapies Focused on Qigong and Walking with Elderly Individuals" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 6: 3004. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063004

APA Style

Yi, J., Kim, S. G., Khil, T., Shin, M., You, J.-H., Jeon, S., Park, G. H., Jeong, A. Y., Lim, Y., Kim, K., Kim, J., Kang, B., Lee, J., Park, J. H., Ku, B., Choi, J., Cha, W., Lee, H.-J., Shin, C., ... Kim, J. U. (2021). Psycho-Electrophysiological Benefits of Forest Therapies Focused on Qigong and Walking with Elderly Individuals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), 3004. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063004

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