Having a stroke can damage the parts of the brain that help keep balance, leaving some people having a hard time learning to walk again. Problems with balance can mean people are more likely to fall and injure themselves – this being more than just an annoyance and uncomfortable feeling that interferes with their quality of life. It also raises the risk of debilitation and the possibility of fatal falls.
Tai Chi Chuan may help you with these problems. Tai chi Chuan is an inner and highly spiritual ancient Chinese martial art, practiced for integrating body, mind and spirit. According to the philosophy behind the practice, the slow, fluid postures and sequential movements of tai chi focus our concentration while gently working muscles; therefore promoting mind and body calmness and health.
Not surprisingly, modern-day scientists are backing up these ancient claims. Earlier research performed in 2006 by the University of Michigan has previously shown that Tai Chi can improve balance and reduce falls among healthy elders. More recently, researchers at the University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC) have endorsed Tai Chi is a drug-free way to treat these stroke-caused balance problems.
It was in Hong Kong where the study was held, that Mrs. Hui-Chan, professor and head of physical therapy of UIC, and her colleagues decided to try proving that Tai Chi would help stroke survivors. 136 persons who had suffered a stroke more than six months earlier participated in the study. They were put into 2 groups: One practiced breathing, stretching and other exercises that included sitting and walking; the other one, which was the Tai Chi group, practiced a simplified form of this ancient martial art consisting of coordinated movements of the head, trunk and limbs that required concentration and attention to balance. At the end of the 12 weeks study, all the participants were given several balance tests. Both groups performed about the same on a test which involved the ability to stand, walk and sit back down. However, when it came to testing the ability of maintaining balance, like shifting weight, leaning in different directions and standing on moving surfaces… the Tai Chi practicing group clearly showed a significant better performance than the control group did. This study also showed that, in addition to improving balance, Tai Chi improves strength and cardiovascular fitness too.
These results of the research have been published in the January issues of Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair magazines.
Generally speaking, Tai Chi is a quite beneficial exercise activity for stroke survivors, which is considered low-cost because no equipment and few facilities are needed. What’s more, Tai Chi classes can give seniors opportunities for healthy group interactions that help prevent social isolation, too. We invite you to find out whether there are any Tai Chi classes in your area, and you can also speak to an instructor to ask whether the type of Tai Chi they teach is suitable for people who’ve had a stroke in order to practice movements that will be the most suitable for you.
No doubt, Tai Chi is getting more and more interest from health authorities. The NIH’s National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is currently sponsoring studies to find out more about Tai Chi’s benefits, how it works, and diseases and conditions for which it may be most helpful.
Sources:
ScienceDaily.com
Stroke Rehabilitation Journal