Wheel chair Tai Chi
December 23rd, 2011
Dr. Zibin Guo is a medical anthropologist in The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He demonstrated the 13 Moves of Wheelchair Taijiquan in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
Tai Chi Medical Custom Search...
Tai Chi improves balance, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness in older adults
December 5th, 2011
Question :
Can Tai Chi improve balance control, flexibility and cardiorespiratory fitness?
Answer :
Compared to a sedentary group, the Tai Chi group had better scores for resting heart rate, 3 minute step test heart rate, balance (right and left leg standing with eyes closed) and flexibility.
Summary :
This study recruited 28 males over 65 years old who had been practicing the Yang Style of Tai Chi for at least 10 years.
Tai Chi and knee osteoarthritis
December 2nd, 2011
Question :
Can tai chi be used treat knee osteoarthritis?
Answer :
This study will be completed by July 2009.
Summary :
Forty patients were randomly allocated to either Tai Chi or to attention control (wellness education and stretching). Patients participated in 60 minutes of Tai Chi sessions, twice a week, for 12 weeks. The Tai Chi program was a modified form of the classical Yang Style designed to avoid knee stress.
Tai Chi for balance reduces the fear of falling
November 29th, 2011
Question :
Can Tai Chi Chuan improve balance?
Answer :
This study showed that Tai Chi can reduce the fear of falling.
Summary :
Seventy-two inactive, older subjects were randomly assigned to a computerized balance training group, a Tai Chi group, or an educational control group. Tai Chi consisting of 10 forms was performed for 1 hour, 2 times per week, for 15 weeks. Tai Chi reduced the fear of falling but did not improve balance compared to the computerized balance training group.
The Tai Chi intervention may not have been of sufficient duration. Also, the computerized balance training group was trained on the same apparatus with which all subjects in the study were tested; so familiarity could have improved the results in the computerized balance training group.
Tai Chi and ankylosing spondylitis
November 26th, 2011
Question :
Can tai chi exercise improve disease activity, flexibility and depression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis?
Answer :
Tai Chi improved disease activity and flexibility in patients with ankylosing spondylitis but there was a high drop rate with only 13 patiens in the treatment group.
Summary :
Forty patients were allocated to either a Tai Chi treatment group or to a no-treatment control group. Tai Chi was performed for 60 minutes, twice a week, for 8 weeks and followed by 8 weeks of home practice. This study used the 21 Tai Chi movements based on Tai Chi for Rheumatoid Arthritis (developed by Australian family physician Dr. Paul Lam). Thirteen out of twenty patients in the Tai Chi group completed the study (a 35% dropout rate). The Tai Chi treatment group was composed of 10 men and 3 women with an average age of 35.2 years. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and the Finger to Floor Distance was improved after 16 weeks in the Tai Chi group. The improvement in depression scores was not statistically significant.
Tai Chi versus brisk walking
November 23rd, 2011
Question :
How does Tai Chi compare to a brisk walk for women aged 65 years or older?
Answer :
Tai Chi improved fitness in elderly women over a three month period. Tai Chi was better than brisk walking in improving lower extremity strength, balance and flexibility.
Summary :
Twenty-six sedentary healthy women aged 65 years or older were randomized to Tai Chi or to a brisk walking group. An additional 8 women were assigned to a sedentary comparison group.
A modified 10-movement Yang style of Tai Chi was taught. Tai Chi was performed for about 1 hour, 3 times per week, for 12 weeks. The walking group aimed to reach 50–70% of the calculated target heart rate (220 – age).
Tai Chi and balance in men with osteoporosis
November 20th, 2011
Question :
Can Tai Chi improve balance?
Answer :
Tai Chi improved balance as measured by a Computer Posturographic System.
Summary :
A randomized controlled trial where 25 men over the age of 60 with osteopenia or osteoporosis were randomly assigned to a Tai Chi exercise group. Tai Chi was performed for 45 minutes, twice a week, for 18 weeks.
Tai Chi for diabetes
November 17th, 2011
Question :
Can Tai Chi improve mobility, physical function, and the quality of life of adult diabetics?
Answer :
Walking speed and balance (static and dynamic) improved significantly in both the Tai Chi and the control group after 16 weeks. There was no improvement in muscle function, endurance capacity, cognition, or other measures of quality of life.
Summary :
Thirty-eight older adults (?50 years of age) with stable type 2 diabetes were randomized to Tai Chi or to sham exercise (calisthenics and gentle stretching). A modified 12 movement form of Tai Chi (‘Tai Chi for Diabetes’ by Dr. Lam) was performed for 1 hour, twice a week, for 16 weeks.
Tai Chi for Parkinson’s disease
November 14th, 2011
Question :
Is Tai Chi effective in people with Parkinson’s disease? It is a movement disorder characterized by muscle rigidity, slow physical movement (bradykinesia), impaired balance, and tremor.
Answer :
There is insufficient evidence to suggest that Tai Chi is effective in Parkinson’s disease. One randomized controlled trial showed that Tai Chi may help in the prevention of falls.
Summary :
Seven studies were included in this review, three were randomized controlled trials (RCT).
In one RCT, Tai Chi was superior to conventional exercise for improving the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and for the prevention of falls. Another RCT comparing Tai Chi to Qigong, found no effect on locomotor ability. (Is Qigong a placebo?). The third RCT comparing Tai Chi to a wait list control, showed no effect on the UPDRS.
Electromyography in Tai Chi
November 11th, 2011
Question :
How does a Tai Chi master move and use his muscles?
Answer :
The hip, knee and ankle joints are bent to maintain an upright posture and a low center of gravity. The anti-gravity muscles (rectus femoris and the medial head of gastrocnemius) are strengthened by eccentric muscle contraction.
Summary :
Electromyographic activities of the lumbar erector spinae, rectus femoris, medial hamstrings, and medial head of gastrocnemius were measured as a Tai Chi master performed a sequence of basic Tai Chi movements.
Translator
 | This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. |