It was found that a program of twice-weekly tai chi for 24 weeks, as compared with a resistance-training program or a stretching program, was effective in improving postural stability and other functional outcomes in patients with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease. Tai chi training also significantly reduced the incidence of falls, as compared with the stretching program. Improvements in primary and secondary outcomes were maintained 3 months after the intervention, a finding that is consistent with prior research involving adults 70 years of age or older. No serious adverse events were observed during tai chi training, indicating the safety and usefulness of this intervention for persons with Parkinson’s disease.
Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art that incorporates gentle physical exercise with mindfulness training. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a six month long programme of Tai Chi on people with MS. 32 people with MS in Germany took part in the study. 15 participants took part in a six month Tai Chi programme where they took part in a 90 minute class every week and 17 were the control group and did no Tai Chi. The study found that the participants who had taken part in the Tai Chi programme had significant improvements in their balance, coordination and depression. Participants in this group were also more satisfied with life after the programme. Levels of fatigue remained relatively stable in the Tai Chi group, but increased in the control group. The study results indicate that Tai Chi could be useful for people with MS. It appeared to have a beneficial effect on balance and coordination as well as psychological wellbeing.
Do you know someone who suffers from dementia? Witnessing a loved one slowly lose their memory and reasoning skills can be a very painful experience. Dementia is a persistent syndrome that tends to get worse over time — affecting memory, thinking, and behavior. It is distinct from Alzheimer’s in that Alzheimer’s is a specific disease, but general dementia can stem from a variety of unrelated brain illnesses. Natural and holistic remedies are gaining in popularity as they continue to prove themselves capable of offering relief to sufferers of mental ailments. The knowledge that the body is a whole system (not just a group of unrelated parts) is growing in popularity, and people are noticing that when one part of the body becomes ill, it affects all the rest. And when the whole body is strong, the parts don’t break down as easily or as often.