Parkinson's tai chi helps with balance disorder

Parkinson's: Tai Chi helps against balance disorders

12/02/2012

Parkinson's is a degenerative, neurological disease characterized by major limitations in the ability to move of those affected. US researchers have now found from a study that Tai Chi exercises in Parkinson help to reduce discomfort.

Parkinson's patients suffer from shaking palsy
The typical symptoms of parkinsonism, the so-called shaking palsy include muscle rigidity and trembling, balance disorders and slowed movements to immobility. So far, there is no cure for curing the disease. Medicines are only used to reduce the symptoms. Since the disease is characterized by the death of nerve cells with the messenger dopamine, they are usually drugs that increase the dopamine supply in the brain or replace missing dopamine. There is a vague hope that Parkinson's can be cured with stem cell therapies later. However, research is still in its infancy.

In addition to drug therapy, Parkinson's patients will be advised to undergo physical therapy and physical exercise as this may delay the progression of the disease and counteract physical decline. American researchers have now found out that Tai Chi exercises are particularly suitable for this.

The subjects were examined at the beginning, at the end and three months after the end of the training by the scientists. They found that stretching did not improve posture while Tai Chi and strength training had a positive effect. Researchers led by Fuzhong Li from the Oregon Research Institute were able to show that the subjects from the Tai Chi group both had the best posture and achieved the greatest directional control of the movements through the training. The strength training also improved the posture of the study participants, however, it had no detectable impact on the directional control of the movements.

Tai Chi thus helps Parkinson's patients to stay independent for longer. In addition, the study found that it reduces the risk of falls. Fuzhong Li explains: „It's cheap, it does not need any extra equipment, you can do the exercises anywhere, anytime, and the movements are easy to learn. "

Tai Chi is generally considered to be beneficial to health
The big advantage of Tai Chi is that practitioners can practice these Chinese remedial gymnastics anywhere and do not need any special equipment. It promotes the sense of balance and is offered, among other things very successfully in nursing homes for fall prevention. Even the sick and the weak can perform the exercises in a simplified form.

Ronald Robinson, Tai Chi Teacher from Glasgow, Scotland, has been gaining experience with Parkinson's and other nerve related patients for 25 years. He reports on his teaching in various rehabilitation facilities: „I have been working for many years with students suffering from Parkinson's disease. My students have told me that by practicing Tai Chi, they experience moments of silence, stability, and a sense of balance. The slow, flowing movements strengthen the connection to the ground. By relaxing and centering the breathing in the lower abdomen, the stability is intensified, creating a sense of calm and serenity.“ (Ag)

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Image: Michael Raab