Showing posts with label Multiple sclerosis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Multiple sclerosis. Show all posts
Top 5 Conditions to Get Heal With Tai Chi
1. Stress
The Chinese researchers who equated tai chi to a moderate-paced walk also measured its ability to reduce stress. They subjected 48 men and women to mentally challenging tests and then showed them a film calculated to upset them. Then the participants were divided into four groups. Each group attempted to destress using one of four activities: tai chi, meditation, a brisk walk or reading. By measuring their heart rates, blood pressure and urinary excretion of stress hormones, the researchers were able to track how quickly the participants recovered from the stress. Tai chi turned out to be as stress-relieving as two better-known stress reducers, meditation and walking. Tai chi would be a good choice for someone who enjoys physically active approaches to stress management but may not be able to take a walk.
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most severe form of arthritis. Some two million Americans have this painful, potentially crippling inflammatory joint disease. For other forms of arthritis, it is recommended gentle exercise to help control pain and preserve joint function. But many physicians are reluctant to recommend exercise for people with RA because overexertion can trigger joint inflammation. Tai chi does not. In a study, 20 people with RA practiced tai chi two hours a week for ten weeks without any aggravation of symptoms. The researchers concluded that tai chi appears to be safe for RA patients. They also confirmed that tai chi might serve as a safe alternative to other forms of exercise therapy.
3. Balance
In a study, nine pairs of similar women aged 65 to 85 were recruited. One of each pair practiced tai chi, the other did not. Using sophisticated tests, the researchers assessed the women’s postural control, their steadiness on their feet and their ability to remain standing when subjected to destabilizing situations, such as a rocking floor. The tai chi practitioners had significantly better postural control, meaning that they were less likely to fall. This finding has considerable medical importance for those over 65. falling is a common – and serious – problem in the elderly, especially for women with bone-thinning osteoporosis. Osteoporosis makes the bones brittle, and when elderly women fall, they risk hip fractures, complications from which are the nation’s twelfth leading cause of death and a major killer of elderly women. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, helps control osteoporosis, but as women grow older, fear of falling keeps many from getting the weight-bearing exercise they need. All this leads to a vicious cycle: fear of falling, increasingly sedentary lifestyle and increased risk of hip fractures if they do fall. Tai chi can help the elderly stay on their feet, avoid falling and remain physically active, which promotes overall health and well-being.
4. Exercise
A classic, hour-long tai chi routine could raise heart rate and oxygen consumption into the aerobic range, thereby offering the benefits of strenuous exercise, including cardiovascular conditioning. Tai chi’s modest intensity produces the kind of moderate workout that exercise physiologists often recommend for the elderly and for anyone interested in reducing their risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and other serious medical conditions.
5. Emotional Well-Being
It was found that tai chi elevates mood, reduces anger, relieves fatigue and increases energy as well as other forms of moderate exercise.
Raymond Lee is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is the Founder of Bodyfixes Group specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/top-5-conditions-to-get-heal-with-tai-chi-315417.html
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Tai Chi for Rheumatic Diseases, Fibromyalgia and MS
Because Tai Chi improves flexibility and builds muscle strength gradually, doctors and physical therapists recommend it for people with a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. The fluid-as-silk movements of this gentle Chinese practice are tailor-made for easing sore joints and muscles.
"There's no doubt that Tai Chi, done properly, can be a beneficial exercise for people with arthritis," says Paul Lam, M.D., a Sydney-based family practitioner and Tai Chi master who designed the Australian arthritis program. "Tai Chi is an exercise almost anyone who can walk can do safely." Dr. Lam began doing Tai Chi nearly 30 years ago for his own osteoarthritis. "Tai Chi takes the joints gently through their range of motion while the emphasis on breathing and inner stillness relieves stress and anxiety."
Peter Stein, M.D., a Greenbrae, Calif., rheumatologist, says he finds Tai Chi especially good for people with fibromyalgia and those with a high level of muscle pain. "People in pain often can't even do yoga," he says. "They need something milder and more soothing, and Tai Chi is very good for relieving pain."
A 10-week study from 1991 that evaluated Tai Chi's safety for rheumatoid arthritis patients concluded that the weight-bearing aspects of this exercise have the potential to stimulate bone growth and strengthen connective tissue.
A 1999 study that looked at people with multiple sclerosis who practiced Tai Chi found that it contributed to an overall improvement in quality of life for people with chronic, disabling conditions.
Given its low impact and evidence that it tends to increase muscle strength and balance, and gives general pain relief, it's a great option for those who experience symptoms of arthritis, fibromyalgia and MS.
Carolyn Cooper is a certified fitness professional and Energy Intuitive. She is also founder of Tai Chi Flow, Inc., which has produced a series of videos http://www.TaiChiFlow.com including Tai Chi Flow for Kids, Tai Chi Flow for Pregnancy (featured in Fit Pregnancy Magazine) and Tai Chi Flow for Everybody. Cooper also publishes an e-newsletter called "Living in the Flow" and was a contributing author of the book 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Health.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Cooper
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Benefits of Tai Chi to People’s Health
As an exercise, Tai Chi can increase the strength of muscles and enhance the flexibility and balance of a person. Those who practice Tai Chi is exploiting the powers of yin and yang therefore the exercise are designed to especially express the forces in a harmonious and balanced form.
Not only can Tai Chi relax the mind and the soul but also prevent the extent of certain illnesses to spread through the body. It is a very good way of maintaining health. Tai Chi is not a disease curing technique but can be complemented as a form of therapy.
Balance
One of the major causes of disability and death among the elderly is loss of coordination or in more ways than one, falling. By practicing Tai Chi, balance in older people can improve thus reducing the risk of falling.
Arthritis
Tai Chi can be used to increase the range of motion without even causing a twinge of pain to the arthritic joint plus improving the flexibility of the bones and strengthening the surrounding muscles. It is not to be addressed that Tai Chi can cure the disease itself but it only lessens its severity and the contributing pain by working on those joints as early as possible.
Circulation
Problems regarding the circulatory process of the heart can be remedied by involving oneself in Tai Chi. By practicing Tai Chi, it can enable the heart to pump enough blood throughout the body and thereby improving the system’s circulation.
Multiple Sclerosis
Through Tai Chi, a person can reduce the risk of having, in time, multiple sclerosis. This was stated under foremost studies that Tai Chi can improve the mental and physical well-being of a person.
Stress
Studies show that stress is one of the major causes of numerous diseases and disorders that is why there have been ways used to lessen a person’s stress. One of which is engaging in Tai Chi. As a meditation function, Tai Chi can reduce the production of toxins and hormones that contributes to stress reflected into the organs in the body.
For your Tai Chi experience to become more reproductive and effective, choose a practitioner that is a master of the different aspects and knows what is best for your present day situation.
There are no age limits when it comes to practicing Tai Chi. Everyone is welcome to join. Although, if you are really old and can no longer take such vigorous activities, better consult your physician on what is best before engaging in Tai Chi.
Always remember to inform your instructor of any health problems that you have so that he or she can make certain measures to provide you with the ability to do such movements. Tai Chi must not make you feel any pain. If you do feel any pain, tell your instructor right away.
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