"Tai chi is a practice that involves a series of slow gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Tai chi originated as an ancient martial art in China. Over the years, it has become more focused on health promotion and rehabilitation." (NIH)
"...high-certainty evidence that tai chi may reduce the number of people who experience falls by 20 percent (based on 8 studies with 2,677 participants)."
" Updated 2019 guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology and the Arthritis Foundation strongly recommend tai chi for the management of both knee and hip osteoarthritis."
"A 2021 review of 23 studies (1,663 participants) concluded that tai chi may help to improve exercise capacity, lung function, and quality of life in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Tai chi was better than no treatment in all areas evaluated, and it was better than breathing and walking exercises in some of the areas."
"A 2021 narrative review suggested that tai chi could possibly help people coping with COVID-19 and counteract the negative effect of physical inactivity, sedentary behavior, and mental disorders in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors explained that tai chi can be practiced easily and safely at home, in isolation, or in groups, making it useful during pandemic conditions. This suggestion was not based on studies of tai chi during the COVID-19 pandemic but instead on past research about the general effects of tai chi."
You should know: " There’s no national standard for tai chi certification. Various tai chi organizations offer training and certification programs—with differing criteria and levels of certification for instructors."
Don’t use tai chi to postpone seeing a health care provider about a medical problem.
Ask about the training and experience of the tai chi instructor you’re considering.
Take charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Together, you can make shared, well-informed decisions.
Read the full article to learn more about Tai chi studies related to COPD, Parkinson's, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Disease, Dementia, Quality of Life, Cancer, Covid-19, and Pregnancy.
National Center for Complimentary and Integrated Health (NCCIH)
The NCCIH Clearinghouse provides information on NCCIH and complementary and integrative health approaches, including publications and searches of Federal databases of scientific and medical literature. The Clearinghouse does not provide medical advice, treatment recommendations, or referrals to practitioners.
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Peace ~ bcbz blogger
As always very informative