New study shows tai chi delays Parkinson’s disease progression

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WASHINGTON, Oct 26, (Agencies): A recent study, published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, sheds light on the significant potential of tai chi in slowing down the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine conducted this extensive study, monitoring Parkinson’s patients for a period of up to five years.

The study participants were divided into two groups. The first group, comprising 143 patients, engaged in tai chi sessions twice a week, each lasting an hour. The second group, consisting of 187 patients, continued with their standard care for Parkinson’s, without incorporating tai chi into their routines.

The findings of the study revealed that the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease progressed at a notably slower rate among those who practiced tai chi. Furthermore, this group experienced significantly fewer falls, dizziness, and back pain. Cognitive function deterioration was also less pronounced in the tai chi practitioners.

The researchers behind the study commented, “Our study has shown that Tai Chi retains the long-term beneficial effect on PD, indicating the potential disease-modifying effects on both motor and non-motor symptoms, especially gait, balance, autonomic symptoms, and cognition.” They went on to highlight that this long-term positive impact on Parkinson’s disease could extend the duration of a person’s life without disability, ultimately leading to a higher quality of life, reduced caregiver burden, and decreased reliance on medication.

Tai chi, a practice originating from China, involves a series of slow, gentle movements, physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. It’s characterized as a form of martial arts that prioritizes health promotion and rehabilitation, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects the nervous system, often causing involuntary movements, such as tremors in the hands, arms, legs, or head, muscle stiffness, and challenges with balance and coordination. As the disease advances, individuals may experience difficulty walking, and talking, as well as mental and behavioral changes, sleep disturbances, depression, memory issues, and fatigue.

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