T'ai Chi & PD study

[Reetpetitio]

Tai chi may help slow down the symptoms of Parkinson's disease for several years, a Chinese study suggests.

Those who practised the martial art twice a week had fewer complications and better quality of life than those who didn't, the researchers say.

Parkinson's is a progressive brain disease which leads to tremors and slow movement, and there is no cure.

Experts say the findings back up previous studies on the benefits of exercise for those with Parkinson's.

The study, from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, monitored the health of hundreds of Parkinson's patients for up to five years.

One group of 147 people practised regular tai chi while another group of 187 did not.

The traditional Chinese exercise combines slow, gentle movements with deep breathing and relaxation.

The charity Parkinson's UK describes tai chi as a low-intensity physical activity that can "help to lift your mood and help you live well".

The researchers found that the disease progressed more slowly in the tai chi group on measurements of symptoms, movement and balance.

This group also saw fewer falls, less back pain and dizziness, with memory and concentration problems also lower than in the other group.

At the same time, sleep and quality of life continuously improved.

A previous trial of people with Parkinson's who practised tai chi for six months found greater improvements in walking, posture and balance than those not on the programme.

Writing in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, Dr Gen Li and co-authors say their study shows "that tai chi retains the long-term beneficial effect on Parkinson's disease".

They say tai chi could be used to manage Parkinson's on a long-term basis and prolong quality of life, while still helping to keep patients active.

But they also acknowledge that the study is relatively small and could not prove that tai chi was the reason for the positive outcomes experienced by one group.

'Positive effects'

Prof K Ray Chaudhuri, professor of movement disorders and neurology at King's College London, said: "It is too early to claim any neuroprotection based on this study, although the positive effects on aspects of motor and non-motor functions are impressive."

He said ballet had also been found to have similar effects on Parkinson's.

Prof Alastair Noyce, professor in neurology and neuroepidemiology at Queen Mary University of London, called it "an important study" but said there were limitations in its design, and more trials were needed.

"We already recommend tai chi, as well as other forms of exercise, but understanding which forms of exercise are most beneficial is an important goal to enhance the long-term management of patients," he said.

bbc.com/news/health-67208745

[gomelgo]

I prefer qi gong to tai chi, and I have a feeling the outcomes would be the same. And I love that ballet could do it too. Missing my ballet workouts. Thanks for the reminder to get back to them.

[CuriousMe12 in reply to gomelgo]

I do an hour's class which is a 1/3 warm up and meditation, 1/3 tai chi form (joined up movements), 1/3 qi gong (18 separate movements).I see a lot of overlap between qi gong and tai chi. Tai Chi has been the more difficult because of the need to memorize the sequence of joined up moves.

It's all been good for me though. You cant go wrong with qi gong.

[park_bear]

Tai Chi, Chigong, and Reiki are all systems for cultivating the subtle energy known in the east as Chi. These practices often give the appearance of engaging in gentle exercise, and in some cases that may be what the practitioners think they are doing. However, the true essence of these practices is the cultivation of the Chi. In Western terms the Chi might be referred to as Divine Love, and when it is flowing the feeling is quite unmistakable.

[Reetpetitio in reply to park_bear]

Exactly. And chi flows / meridian flows are disrupted in PD, so I think that's the secret weapon here with T'ai Chi & Qi Gong.

[kaypeeoh in reply to park_bear]

I've been taking a Tai Chi class for the past several months. It's been months of shaking my wrists and rotating my knees/hips. I guess we've moved on to deeper training. Today there was a lot of mention of black holes and the Fibinachi sequence.