A new study confirms the benefits of Tai Chi for seniors, especially for those with osteoarthritis or chronic diseases.
What if to treat pain, people with chronic illnesses and osteoarthritis took up Tai Chi? This is what suggests a latest study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. who recommends this sport to people aged 50 to 75 who suffer from it.
Multiple diseases involved
The team at the University of British Columbia reviewed 30 formerly published studies on this Chinese martial art, consisting of slow movements and deep breaths, and often practiced in the early morning in parks.
By relaxing the body and mind, Tai Chi would in any case have beneficial effects on health, soothing the pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis. Beyond this pathology, Tai Chi seems to be beneficial for everything.
Research has shown that this sport also reduces the risk of falls in seniors. People with chronic heart and respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), could be helped by this practice. In the case of respiratory illnesses, for example, participants noted that they were less short of breath after several sessions.
Increased well-being
Tai Chi cannot be considered as a treatment in its own right. But it can be practiced at any age and regardless of physical condition. More than 1,600 people with chronic diseases, interviewed during the various studies, all noted an increased well-being after 12 weeks of practice, at the rate of two to three weekly sessions.
As such, the researchers believe that patients who suffer from several pathologies could be prescribed the practice of the activity to relieve pain.
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