Tai chi benefits Parkinson’s patients

Patients with Parkinson’s disease often struggle with daily activities, due to impairments in movement, in particular those related to balance. Drug therapy is of limited value. The authors of a recent study (1) sought to determine the effects of the Chinese martial art tai chi on this impaired balance. Between 2008 and 2010, 195 participants were randomized to three groups : tai chi, resistance training, or stretching. Each group attended one-hour classes twice a week for 24 weeks.

Those in the tai chi group took part in routines with symmetric and diagonal movements focused on balance and gait. The resistance training involved the use of weighted vests and ankle weights to strengthen muscles associated with posture, balance, and gait. The stretching group practiced stretches focused on the upper body and lower extremities.

Computerized dynamic posturography was used to evaluate movements.

The three groups of 65 patients had similar maximum excursion and directional control scores at baseline. At six months, those in the tai-chi group had significantly higher scores on both measures than the patients in the other two groups. At six months, the tai chi group also demonstrated significantly greater improvement in stride length and functional reach than the other groups. There were also fewer falls in the tai chi group (62) than in the resistance group (133) and the stretching group (186).