Category Archives: balance

Tai Chi and Parkinson’s Disease

Tai Chi and Parkinson’s Disease (TCPD)

Scientists are examining, in a single-blind, randomized controlled trial, whether Tai Chi can improve postural balance and lower-extremity muscle strength, and reduce frequency of falls among early to moderately advanced Parkinson’s disease patients.
Principal Investigator: Fuzhong Li
Co-Investigator: Peter Harmer
Project Period: 12/19/07 – 11/30/11
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

A search of the NIH website for articles,  studies, and or references to Tai Chi and Parkinson’s yielded 336 results.  This short list of article links shows why tai chi has a promise of relief for person’s with the disease symptoms.

My own limited experience with tai chi and parkinson’s is that those who gave an earnest effort gained almost immediate relief from tremor. (two one-time interventions with Parkinson’s support groups, and one long term patient practice).  Additionally I most note that one wife learned “wei qigong” technique from me, and was gratified to be able to relieve her husband’s tremor for brief periods daily, for several years.

Study of Tai Chi Exercise and Balance in Persons With Parkinson’s

Related Studies, Study of Tai Chi Exercise and Balance in Persons With Parkinson’s
Disease. This study is not yet open for participant recruitment.
clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00611481 – 31kCached

Effect of Exercise on Gait and Balance in Peripheral Neuropathy

Functional Balance Training and Tai Chi, the two exercise interventions tested in
eg diagnosis of hemiparesis, cerebellar dysfunction, Parkinson’s disease as
clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00270842 – 34kCached

Chinese Exercise Modalities in Parkinson’s Disease – Full Text

with Parkinson’s Disease not exercising regularly more than 2x per week. Willing
to be randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 exercise modalities: Tai Chi, Qi Gong
clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00029809 – 27kCached

NCCAM-Funded Research for FY 2007

R21 AT002161-03, Tai Chi for Knee Osteoarthritis, Wang, Chenchen, New England Medical
R21 AT003002-02, NIR-LED Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease, Whelan, Harry T
nccam.nih.gov/research/extramural/awards/2007/ – 101kCached

Living with Parkinson’s: A Jekyll and Hyde Existence: National

However, as David Heydrick, MD, a neurologist and a Parkinson’s patient, explained,
“Through use Dr. Heydrick runs daily, practices tai chi, and lifts weights.
www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_articles/news_article_living_with_pd.htm – 18kCached

NIHSeniorHealth: Parkinson’s Disease – Treatment and Research Other complementary therapies include massage therapy, yoga, tai chi, hypnosis,
acupuncture, and these therapies, but they do not slow Parkinson’s disease and
nihseniorhealth.gov/parkinsonsdisease/surgicaltreatmentsandothertherapies/10.html – 14k – 09-22-2008Cached

Tai Chi and Knee Extensor Strength: Balance

Abstract:

Wu G, Zhao F, Zhou X, Wei L.

Improvement of isokinetic knee extensor strength and reduction of postural sway in the elderly from long-term Tai Chi exercise.

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2002;83:1364-9.

Objectives: To compare isokinetic strength of leg muscles and foot center of pressure (COP) as a measure of sway between long-term Tai Chi practitioners and controls.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Community setting. Participants: Twenty subjects in the Tai Chi group and 19 subjects in the control group (age, >55y).

Intervention: Subjects in Tai Chi group had practiced Tai Chi for a minimum of 3 years.

Main Outcome Measures: Concentric and eccentric strength of knee extensors and flexors at 60°/s and 120°/s, and foot COP displacement during quiet stance with eyes open or closed.

Results: People in the Tai Chi group had significantly higher knee extensor strength at all speeds tested (P<.013), and smaller foot COP excursions for both eyes open and eyes closed conditions (P<.05) than people in control group. No significant difference existed in knee flexors between the 2 groups (P<.713). The COP excursions correlated significantly with the eccentric strength of knee extensors (P<.07) but not with the concentric strength of knee extensors (P<.14) or with the isokinetic strength of knee flexors at most of the speeds (P<.27).

Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that the maintenance of eccentric strength of postural muscles in the lower extremities, which is beneficial for maintaining good postural stability, is helped through the long-term practice of Tai Chi.

© 2002 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

via Elsevier: Article Locator.