Tai Chi May Improve Mental Health in Seniors
May 23rd, 2011
Tai Chi, a form of exercise that focuses on gentle movements, balance and coordination, can help improve the psychological and physical health of older individuals, new research shows. Seniors, in particular, are at greater risk for physical and cognitive impairment, and often reduce physical activity as they age. Previous studies have shown that any regular physical activity can increase neurotransmitter activity and release endorphins, elevate mood and increase psychological health. Because tai chi is a full body exercise that can be performed with relatively minimal impact, it is an excellent choice for seniors.
A recent study examined 35 separate sources of data to determine what benefits this ancient form of exercise had on physical conditions such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular disease, depression and negative moods in seniors. The data was collected from English, Korean and Chinese sources and was reviewed by researchers in South Korea and England.
Although the results were inconclusive for several of the physical conditions, the findings did show that tai chi provided clear mental health benefits and also proved an effective exercise for the prevention of falls and increased balance and coordination. However, there was no clear indication that tai chi had any positive impact on any of the other physical health conditions, with the exception of a slight improvement in arthritic symptoms, flexibility and strength.
"Our overview showed that tai chi, which combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow and gentle movements, may exert exercise-based general benefits for fall prevention and improvement of balance in older people as well as some meditative effects for improving psychological health," wrote study authors Myeong Soo Lee of the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine in South Korea, and Dr. Edzard Ernst of the University of Exeter in England. "We recommend tai chi for older people for its various physical and psychological benefits. However, tai chi may not effectively treat inflammatory diseases and cardiorespiratory disorders," they concluded.
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Comments
It’s always good to combine exercise and treatment because if the habit of Tai Chi is developed in a senior, chances are that it will not only help overcome the disorder but will also safeguard the senior in the future.
Do you think that this is as good as yoga, even for those of us who do not necessarily need something low impact but are just looking for a new way to relax and unwind?
I don’t really think Tai Chi is as safe for seniors as this article makes it sound.
Very elderly men and women barely walk right, let alone do the movements needed with tai chi. You need to have good balance to practice this form of exercise. One stumble and they could break a hip!
@Adele- Seriously? I think you must be confusing Tai Chi with something else, Adele. Tai Chi is actually the least-demanding form of exercise I can think of. It’s safe for seniors to do and you’re unlikely to lose your balance if you pay attention to what you’re doing. The movements are very slow and measured.
It’s been practiced since ancient times in China. If it were that dangerous, it would have fallen by the wayside by now. It’s no fad.
Tai-Chi can help improve your balance. When you get old, you become more fragile, and even a simple fall as has been said can break bones or even kill you. I worked in a nursing home so I know how cautious you need to be with the elderly and careful around them. It’s surprising how brittle their bones can get.
@logan It’s a lot easier to do than yoga since you’re not attempting to put yourself in positions where you might pull a muscle like a full lotus position.
Try it out sometime and see how you like it! It’s not very difficult at all. Meditation would be another good choice for relaxation.
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