BALANCE and Tai Chi & qigong

 

BALANCE and TAI CHI!

Try tai chi to improve balance, avoid falls
Tai chi helps improve balance because it targets all the physical components needed to stay upright—leg strength, flexibility, range of motion, and reflexes—all of which tend to decline with age.
Click for article at Health.Harvard.edu Aug 23, 2012



A total of 24 studies were selected, 10 being randomized controlled trials and 14 being nonrandomized controlled trials. Twenty of the studies produced evidence favorable to using Tai Chi to improve postural control, indicating sufficient support for Tai Chi. Support for the reduction of falls was especially strong since 8 of 10 randomized controlled trials reported fall reduction.
- Medscape Today, from WebMD, 10/26/2010



Institute of Chicago indicates that people with moderate balance problems can be helped by practicing T'ai Chi. Participants...of the 2 month course ...experienced about a 10 percent improvement in balance. An Emory University study supports Hain's findings.
Prevention Magazine V. 46 Dec. 94 p. 71-72



Exercise subjects showed significant improvement on 5 of 14 items in the Berg Balance Scale and on the total score. Leg strength increased significantly on post-test as measured by the Wall-Sit Test. Control subjects reported 6 falls and exercise subjects no falls during the follow-up year.
-- Journal of American Medicine of Women Association, 59, 255-61.


Long-term Tai Chi practitioners had a significantly faster reflex reaction time in hamstrings and gastrocnemius muscles and a longer balance time on a tilt board than short-term Tai Chi practitioners and nonpractitioners. Both long- and short-term Tai Chi practitioners had significantly less knee joint angle-repositioning error than nonpractitioners.
-- Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 87, 82-7



Tai Chi subjects, but not controls, significantly reduced both TA response time and occurrence of co-contraction of antagonist muscles of the perturbed leg. Clinical balance measures also significantly improved after Tai Chi. Tai Chi enhanced neuromuscular responses controlling the ankle joint of the perturbed leg. Fast, accurate neuromuscular activation is crucial for efficacious response to slips or trips.
-- Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 18, 7-19



Greater balance was noted in the Tai Chi group.
-- Journal of Gerontological Nursing 22(10), 12-17



Statistical analysis demonstrated that, after 4 and 8 weeks of intensive Tai Chi training, the elderly subjects achieved significantly better 1) vestibular ratio in the sensory organization test and 2) directional control of their leaning trajectory in the limits of stability test, when compared with those of the control group. These improvements were maintained even at follow-up 4 weeks afterward. Furthermore, the improved balance performance from week 4 on was comparable to that of experienced Tai Chi practitioners.
-- Medicine and Science for Sports Exercise, 36, 648-57



The elderly people who regularly practiced tai chi not only showed better proprioception at the ankle and knee joints than sedentary controls, but also better ankle kinaesthesis than swimmers/runners. The large benefits of tai chi exercise on proprioception may result in the maintenance of balance control in older people.
-- British Journal of Sports Medicine, 38, 50-4



Effect Of Knee-protected Tai Chi Aerobic (KPTCA) For Community-dwelling Middle-aged Adults
National Taiwan Sport University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that the KPTCA is effective in improving dynamic balance, lower extremity flexor strength, and aerobic capacity in community-dwelling middle-aged adults. These improvements may increase the ability of the middle-aged to face the physical challenge in the everyday life.


 

 


FIND MUCH MORE RESEARCH AT THE "QIGONG INSTITUTE DATABASE"
Since 1984, collecting breaking medical/science research on Qigong, Tai Chi, Yoga, and Mind-Body Education
Click here  for Qigong Institute Database...




* NOTE: World Tai Chi & Qigong Day advises consulting your physician before beginning any new exercise, herbal, diet, or health program. The research listed here is meant to stimulate a discussion between you and your physician, health insurance carrier, etc., not as medical advise. Research and comments provided here are hoped to stimulate a more robust discussion of powerful natural mind/body health tools. Popular media, health media, and government must increase attention to stunning emerging research, including the UCLA study indicating Tai Chi participants enjoyed a 50% increase in immune system resistance to viral infection.




 

 

To learn more about tai chi & qigong medical research, see the below book,
"the complete idiot's guide to tai chi & qigong,", and also
"Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi," and
"The way of qigong: the art and science of chinese energy healing."






 

Click to purchase this acclaimed best-selling Tai Chi book, with nearly 150 web-video support videos for the detailed text/illustration instruction as a "gift of health" for loved ones.

A new paradigm in multi-media educational books.

 

"Visionary! If you only buy one book on T'ai Chi, then this is the book. This book is all you ever needed to know to change your life. I have taught T'ai Chi for several decades myself, yet I have now read Bill's book from cover to cover seven times, and still get something new from it each time."
Dr. Michael Steward Sr., D.MA, Ph.D., MA, Senior Coach for Team USA, Inductee of the World Sports Medicine and World Martial Arts Hall of Fame

"Sometimes Chinese culture can be difficult to explain. Sifu Bill Douglas successfully uses American culture to explain the art of T'ai Chi Chuan. He simplifies difficult concepts, making them easier to understand. This book takes the best parts of T'ai Chi and makes them understandable [to Westerners] without requiring a grounding in Chinese culture and history."
– Sifu Yijiao Hong, USA All-Tai Chi Grand Champion and USA Team member; Certified International Coach and Judge, International Wushu Federation

"Douglas has achieved for QiGong what Apple did for the computer. He's brought it to the people … great place to start for beginners. … Teachers may also find this an excellent manual 'on how to explain these concepts to the general public…'"
– R. Poccia, stress management instructor, Beyond Anonymous, San Francisco


 NEW BOOK FROM AUTHOR ...
"The Tao of Tai Chi: The Making of a New Science" (now available in both English and Spanish))
Tao of Tai Chi: The Making of a New Science

 


 

Harvard's Dr. Peter Wayne discusses Tai Chi, Qigong and Bio-Energy with Neuro-biologist, Dr. Richard Hammerschlag,
with WORLD TAI CHI & QIGONG DAY ONLINE SUMMIT HOSTS

 

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day's series of Official ONLINE SUMMITS, have brought some of the top minds in Tai Chi, Qigong, and cutting edge scientists researching Mind-Body practices. World Tai Chi & Qigong Day's global health education work was recognized on page 25 of "The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi" ...

A reflection of how successful the invasion has been is World Tai Chi Day, organized by Bill Douglas. One of the purposes of this day is ‘to bring together people across racial, economic, religious, and geo-political boundaries, to join together for the purpose of health and healing, providing an example to the world.' Millions of people around the world – 65 nations participated in 2011 – gather one day each year to celebrate the health and healing benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong.
— The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi (page 25)


Harvard Medical School Researchers Launch 'Tai Chi as Therapy' Lecture to Commemorate World Tai Chi Day

 

The new Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi is a powerful reference book for all tai chi and qigong advocates, teachers, etc. The Harvard Guide cites WorldTaiChiDay.org's work in expanding global awareness of tai chi and qigong!

Our efforts have exposed over ONE BILLION potential viewers/readers of mass media to Tai Chi and Qigong and its myriad health benefits, via our annual WTCQD worldwide events.