Tai Chi for Parkinson’s disease
The 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.
The 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.
The Study:
Effectiveness of tai chi for Parkinson’s disease: a critical review.
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.
Lee MS, Lam P, Ernst E.
Parkinsonism & related disorders. 2008 December.
Related Links:
American Parkinson Disease Association
Originally posted 2009-06-01 06:00:02.
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