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Observational Study
. 2022 Mar 15;19(6):3451.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063451.

Forest Bathing Is Better than Walking in Urban Park: Comparison of Cardiac and Vascular Function between Urban and Forest Parks

Tsung-Ming Tsao  1 , Jing-Shiang Hwang  2 , Sung-Tsun Lin  1   3 , Charlene Wu  4 , Ming-Jer Tsai  1   5 , Ta-Chen Su  1   3   6   7
Affiliations
Observational Study

Forest Bathing Is Better than Walking in Urban Park: Comparison of Cardiac and Vascular Function between Urban and Forest Parks

Tsung-Ming Tsao et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Forest bathing is beneficial for human health. To investigate whether walking in forest or urban parks affects cardiovascular functions (CVFs), the present study was conducted in five forest trails in the Xitou Experimental Forest and in five urban parks in Taipei city. We recruited 25 adult volunteers for an observational pilot study in forest parks (n = 14) and urban parks (n = 11). CVFs were assessed by measuring the arterial pressure waveform using an oscillometric blood pressure (BP) device. The baseline and paired differences of systolic BP (SBP), central end SBP, heart rate, left ventricle (LV) dP/dt max and cardiac output in participants were lower before and after walking in a forest park than those in an urban park. In addition, the systemic vascular compliance and brachial artery compliance of those who walked in a forest park were significantly higher compared with those in an urban park. Linear mixed models demonstrated lower levels of SBP by 5.22 mmHg, heart rate by 2.46 beats/min, and cardiac output by 0.52 L/min, and LV dP/dt max by 146.91 mmHg/s among those who walked in forest compared to those in an urban park after controlling covariates. This study provides evidence of the potential beneficial effects of walking exercise in forest parks on CVFs.

Keywords: blood pressure; cardiovascular function; forest bathing; urban park; walking exercise.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Location of study plot in forest trails and urban parks. The five forest trails in NTU Xitou Experimental Forest, Nantou County, Taiwan (a) and urban parks marked (b) in Arabic numerals were (1) Phyllostachys edulis forest, (2) Japanese cedar forest, (3) Taiwan red cedar forest, (4) greensward, (5) Taiwania cryptomerioides forest; the five urban parks in Taipei City, Taiwan (6) 228 Peace Park, (7) Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall Park, (8) Pao An Temple Park, (9) Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall Park, and (10) Long shan Temple Park.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Photos of the five forest trails in NTU Xitou Experimental Forest, Nantou County, and urban parks in Taipei City, Taiwan.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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