Latest featured videos from Fairfield-Echo.com
Tai Chi Tames Chronic Health Conditions
Related News from HealthDay
Most Patients With Irregular Heartbeat Take Inadequate Blood Thinner Dose
Angioplasty Scoring System Predicts Risk of Death
Fat Cells in Obese People Are ’Sick’
Newer Blood Pressure Drug No Better Than Placebo in Preventing Stroke
Finding May Allow Some Women to Stop Blood Thinners
Health News Archives
   

Tai Chi Tames Chronic Health Conditions

THURSDAY, March 25 (HealthDayNews) -- The ancient Chinese practice of Tai Chi appears to improve balance, flexibility and cardiovascular health in people with such chronic health problems as heart failure, hypertension, arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

So says a review article by researchers at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston.

They analyzed 47 studies that examined the health effects of Tai Chi in patients with various chronic health conditions.

"Overall, these studies reported that long-term Tai Chi practice had favorable effects on the promotion of balance control, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness and reduced the risk of falls in elders," the authors write.

Cardiovascular and respiratory function improvements were noted in healthy people and those who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery as well as people with heart failure, hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

"Benefit was also found for balance, strength, and flexibility in older subjects; falls in frail elderly subjects; and pain, stress and anxiety in healthy subjects," the authors write.

They add the actual ways that Tai Chi provides these benefits are not well known.

The article appears in a recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

More information

The Arthritis Foundation has more about Tai Chi.

 


Fairfield-Echo.com:

Copyright 2008 Fairfield-Echo. All rights reserved.

By using Fairfield-Echo.com, you accept the terms of our visitor agreement and privacy policy. You may wish to note our other business policies.

This website is ACAP-enabled