Tai Chi and shingles immunity
Question :
Can tai chi exercise give your immune system a boost?
Answer :
In this study, tai chi exercise increased an immunological marker for shingles immunity by nearly 50%.
Summary :
The varicella-zoster virus causes chicken pox and shingles (herpes zoster). The virus remains dormant in the nervous system after a chickenpox infection and can be reactivated years latter as shingles. Shingles is a painful rash with blisters on the skin. Post herpectic neuralgia is a complication of shingles.
36 health adults over 60 years of age were randomly allocated either to the tai chi group or to a waiting-list control group. Tai Chi Chih (a set of 19 movements and 1 pose) was performed for 45 minutes, 3 times a week, for 15 weeks. Immunity to the varicella-zoster virus (VZV-responder cell frequency) was measured at the start of the study and after 16 weeks.
