RESUMO Introdução O Tai Chi Softball reflete integralmente o conceito mais completo e coerente do exercício de Tai Chi, redondo e suave, natural e contínuo, sendo muito adequado para o exercício diário de pessoas de meia-idade e idosas. Objetivo Explorar o efeito do exercício de Tai Chi Soft Ball na composição corporal e densidade mineral óssea de mulheres de meia-idade e idosas. Métodos 45 voluntários foram recrutados e divididos em um grupo de Tai Chi Softball e um grupo de controle, o grupo de Tai Chi Softball foi orientado por treinadores profissionais para realizar exercícios de Tai Chi Softball por 6 meses. O grupo de controle não realizou o exercício de Tai Chi Softball, e testou vários indicadores físicos para comparação. Resultados O peso e o IMC das mulheres de meia-idade e idosas mostraram uma tendência decrescente. Entre elas, as medidas de dobra cutânea do abdômen e braço foram significativamente diferentes daquelas anteriores à experiência (P < 0,01). O percentual de gordura corporal diminuiu significativamente e o peso muscular aumentou, apresentando significância estatística (P<0,05). Conclusão O exercício de Tai Chi Softball pode aliviar o rápido declínio da densidade mineral óssea e do conteúdo mineral ósseo em mulheres de meia-idade e idosas. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

ABSTRACT Introduction Tai Chi Softball fully reflects the most complete and coherent concept of Tai Chi exercise, round and smooth, natural and continuous, and is very suitable for the daily exercise of middle-aged and elderly people. Objective Explore the effect of Tai Chi Softball exercise on body shape and bone mineral density of middle-aged and elderly women. Methods 45 volunteers were recruited and divided into a Tai Chi Softball group and a control group; the Tai Chi Softball group was guided by professional trainers to perform Tai Chi Softball exercises for six months. The control group did not perform Tai Chi Softball exercises and tested various physical indicators for comparison. Results The weight and BMI of middle-aged and elderly women showed a decreasing trend. The abdominal and arm skinfold measurements were significantly different from those before the experiment (P < 0.01). Body fat percentage decreased significantly, and muscle weight increased, showing statistical significance (P < 0.05). Conclusion Tai Chi Softball exercise can alleviate the rapid decline in bone mineral density and bone mineral content in middle-aged and elderly women. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMEN Introducción El Tai Chi Softball refleja plenamente el concepto más completo y coherente del ejercicio de Tai Chi, redondo y suave, natural y continuo, y es muy adecuado para el ejercicio diario de las personas de mediana edad y mayores. Objetivo Explorar el efecto del ejercicio de Tai Chi Softball sobre la composición corporal y la densidad mineral ósea de mujeres de mediana edad y mayores. Métodos Se reclutaron 45 voluntarias y se dividieron en un grupo de Tai Chi Softball y un grupo de control, el grupo de Tai Chi Softball fue guiado por entrenadores profesionales para realizar ejercicios de Tai Chi Softball durante 6 meses. El grupo de control no realizó el ejercicio, y se sometió a varios indicadores físicos para su comparación. Resultados El peso y el IMC de las mujeres de mediana edad y de edad avanzada mostraron una tendencia a la baja. Entre ellos, las medidas de los pliegues cutáneos abdominales y del brazo fueron significativamente diferentes de las anteriores al experimento (P < 0,01). El porcentaje de grasa corporal disminuyó significativamente y el peso muscular aumentó, mostrando significancia estadística (P < 0,05). Conclusión El ejercicio de Tai Chi Softball puede aliviar el rápido descenso de la densidad mineral ósea y del contenido mineral óseo en mujeres de mediana edad y mayores. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Icariin, a prenylated flavonol glycoside isolated from Epimedium, has been considered as a potential alternative therapy for osteoporosis. The present study aimed to clarify the detailed molecular mechanisms of action of icariin on osteoblast function, using bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). BM-MSCs were first stimulated by icariin. Then, gene and protein expression of cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling molecules were analyzed by RT-PCR and western blotting (WB), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was analyzed in cell lysates by ELISA. MTT assays indicated that icariin did not have significant effects on cell viability up to 1 µM. Icariin showed a dose-dependent effect on the alkaline phosphatase activity of BM-MSCs. WB analysis showed that icariin treatment of BM-MSCs significantly enhanced the protein expression of protein kinase A (PKA) and cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB), while RT-PCR results showed that icariin dose-dependently increased the mRNA levels of PKA and CREB. Icariin induced BM-MSC differentiation by BMP2, Smad1, and Runx2. RT-PCR and WB results indicated that icariin significantly increased the expression of BMP2, Smad1, and Runx2 in BM-MSCs. These results suggest that icariin is an agonist of the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway in BM-MSC differentiation, raising the possibility that it could be used in the treatment of osteoporosis.