Tai chi or Tai Chi Chun is translated as
'Supreme ultimate force' is thought to be a moving form of a combination of
yoga and meditation. There are a number of forms consisting of a sequence of
movements, many of which are known to be derived from martial arts and perhaps
even further back from the movement of birds and animals. They are performed in
a slow, soft and graceful movement with smooth and even transitions between
them. Tai
Chi includes gentle physical exercise and stretching. The postures or movement
are done in a slow, graceful way. During a session, the body stays in motion as
one movement flows into the next.
Due to it slow and graceful movements, it
has shown to benefit older people by maintaining balance and strength. Further
research indicates the use of Tai chi with patients who suffer from Parkinson’s.
Parkinson disease, a progressive disorder
of the nervous system affects the motor control and movement. It is
characterised by the death of nerve cells which produces dopamine. Lower dopamine
production can lead to tremors, balance problems, stiff facial expressions and
muffled speech, among other problems. Although the condition usually develops
after the age of 60, almost 15 percent of those who learn of the diagnosis are
under the age of 50.
A study done by Fuzhong Li et al, at the
Oregan research centre who practices tai chi says it is sometimes described as
"meditation in motion," because it promotes serenity through gentle
movements, connecting the mind to the body. The researchers looked at changes
in what is called postural stability, which is important to maintain balance.
They also looked at how the patients walked and their physical strength.
The findings are good news for
people with Parkinson’s, who often lose the ability to maintain standing
balance and have difficulty walking and are at risk for frequent falls.
Although some symptoms of Parkinson’s, like tremors, can be relieved by drug
therapy, balance and walking problems are typically not helped by drug
treatment.
It has been shown to help with loss of
balance during normal aging and can help relieve stress. Typically, the
positions and postures of tai chi involve slow, focused movements that flow
from one to the next. The results showed an improvement in the quality of life
of patients who practised Tai chi and they had fewer falls.
However, no insight is available as to how
Tai chi exactly helps in regaining strength and balance. But there is a
possibility that Tai chi may work on retraining the areas of the brain that
control movement. Tai chi works by may be bringing awareness of the brain to
these areas of the body — thereby strengthening those areas of the brain.
Tai chi has been known to be practiced
amongst Parkinson’s sufferers but it is not supported by scientific evidence or
clinical validation.
No comments:
Post a Comment