Study Finds Tai Chi Helpful for Parkinson's Disease

Submitted by Chad Dupuis on Tue, 02/14/2012 - 10:08am

Tai Chi has been shown time and time again in both clinical studies and in real world applications to provide a myriad of health benefits.  One very common aspect to study is to improve balance and coordination in large part to avoid falls in the elderly which is a significant problem.  Researchers from the Oregon Research Institute recently conducted a study looking at the effects of Tai Chi on stability in patients with Parkinson's Disease specifically.

Within this study, researchers assigned 195 patients with parkinson's (staged 1 to 4) to one of three different groups - a tai chi treatment group, a resistance training group and a stretching group.  Patients conducted 2 hour long exercise sessions per week for 24 weeks.  Assessments were taken involving strength, coordination, etc. before and after the intervention.

Researchers found that those in the Tai Chi group significantly outperformed both of the other interventions in every aspect and these benefits were maintained for at least 3 months after the conclusion of the study.

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Comments

shaktimanah's picture
Submitted by shaktimanah on Thu, 02/16/2012 - 12:18am.

Thanks for sharing

Thanks for sharing that Chad that makes me feel great encouragement
towards my Ci gong /TaiChi practices, at my age its nice to learn/hear about
evidence confirming that I’m doing more than a slow and simple cosmic dance.
  As far as Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s I have been led by my research to the dysfunction
of the Pineal and pituitary glands as well as the corruption of the brain’s nerve synopses
as the Root cause of these types of debilitating conditions, which are also the suspect reasons for their victims deep and deadly bouts of depression. Therefor for the past 6months or so I have been focusing on that area of the body through my qi-gong movements and subsequent energy  transference attempts. Raising the Chi’ w/limp wrests and flexing knees, into Waving the RainBow-hands overHead while swaying side to side, into twirling Chi over Head are my favorite builds moving into the diamond Mudra pressing Chi down into subtle action hear on earth.   Your report about how much balance strength and coordination TaiChi can provide in support for me personally in remaining centered and focused within myself will prove vary valuable to me personally in staying steady and cognizant within myself thanks. I’m sure
I am so passionate about the type conditions, because of my love and respect for the innocent elders who I witness falling victim to them all around me/us all everyday. My research and results are yet in the undetermined stages but I feel I (must try) to wash away this naturally accruing contamination of the area the Chinese call the nectar–field. And energy manipulations/energy- washing seems to me’ the most practical and potentially effective way to inspire creative cleansing internal change in those in this special population who can no longer indoor vigorous physical palpation’s or exercise?
I’ll keep you posted thanks again for caring for the care-givers like me.
 

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