|
Center
for
the
Advancement
of
Health
Tai
Chi
good
way
for
elderly
people
to
return
to
exercise
May 2, 2001 - The
low-impact
Chinese
exercise,
Tai
Chi,
can
help
older
people
regain
some
of
the
physical
functioning
that
they
may
have
lost
to
inactivity,
according
to
a
new
study.
Seniors
taking
Tai
Chi
classes
reported
better
physical
functioning
both
at
the
three-month
midpoint
and
the
six-month
end
of
the
pilot
study,
says
Fuzhong
Li,
Ph.D.,
of
the
Oregon
Research
Institute,
and
colleagues.
The
study
included
72
people
between
the
ages
of
65
and
96
who
were
split
into
a
group
that
went
to
an
hour-long
class
twice
a
week
for
six
months
and
a
control
group
that
was
promised
a
four-week
class
at
the
end
of
the
study.
We
found
significant
improvements
within
three
months
on
a
low-intensity
program
conducted
twice
a
week.
Our
results
also
showed
improved
benefits
from
six
months
of
participation,
suggesting
that
additional
health
gains
can
be
derived
from
a
longer
period
of
participation,
the
researchers
say.
The
study
is
published
in
the
May
issue
of
the
Annals
of
Behavioral
Medicine.
They
contrast
this
with
previous
research
on
exercise
programs
that
suggests
much
longer
periods
are
needed
to
show
significant
improvements
in
functioning.
On
completion
of
the
study,
the
Tai
Chi
students
were
also
twice
as
likely
as
the
control
group
to
report
not
being
limited
in
their
ability
to
perform
moderate-to-vigorous
activities.
In
comparison
to
previous
research,
which
shows
that
half
of
sedentary
people
are
unable
to
maintain
a
newly
adopted
exercise
program,
these
findings
were
also
unique
in
that
only
18
percent
of
participants
dropped
out
of
the
Tai
Chi
class.
The
researchers
suggest
Tai
Chi
may
offer
a
particularly
attractive
form
of
fitness
activity
for
this
population.
Members
of
the
classes
described
the
lessons
as
a
positive
experience
with
wide
ranging
benefits
that
both
energized
and
relaxed
them.
They
felt
it
had
helped
them
build
better
flexibility,
balance
and
strength.
The
researchers
did
note
that
since
the
study
recruited
volunteers
for
the
study,
the
participants
may
have
been
more
motivated
than
other
sedentary
elderly
people
to
exercise.
The
study
cost
approximately
$9,000.
Through
grants
from
the
National
Institute
on
Aging,
the
researchers
are
continuing
their
examination
of
the
effects
of
Tai
Chi
on
seniors
health
outcomes,
such
as
falls,
physical
ability
and
long-term
health
behaviors.
Here's
a
Tai
Chi
website
that
can
tell
you
more
-
click
|