Recently a new study on exercise for improving the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study showed that sufferers of Parkinson’s disease fared better doing the slow rhythmic motions of Tai Chi to improve balance than they did with other forms of exercise.
The study of 195 test subjects had groups of Parkinson’s patients in tai chi, resistance training, or stretching. They exercised twice a week for 60 minutes. After six months there were no changes in the exercise or resistance training group but the tai chi group reported less falls.
Parkinson’s patients go through shakes and are very unsteady. They fall quite frequently so this new research is so important to their general health. Other symptoms of this neurodegenerative disease include: tremors, stiffness, muscle rigidity and impaired balance. Tai Chi seems to be a great therapy to address these symptoms.
The importance of mobility and continued movement cannot be stressed enough. Parkinson’s patients can move and suddenly become unable to move forward. This is very stressful and it is expected that the mobility gained from tai chi will help patients become more confident and more independent.
Quincy Almeida, director of the movement disorders research centre at Wilfrid Laurier University, in the USA says that his team will now look into the medical benefits for all seniors and other people with mobility issues to begin tai chi.
About 100, 000 Canadians have Parkinson’s disease. The best known Canadian with the disease is former actor Michael J. Fox.
There was also a famous Montrealer with the disease as well; the late Prof. Campbell Perry who was Canada’s leading forensic psychologist. Dr. Perry taught at Concordia University in Montreal. He was also one of this Montreal examiner’s favorite professors at that time she was studying at Concordia University. This examiner was fortunate to have taken his class shortly before he retired. His health was deteriorating and his speech was difficult, but Dr. Perry’s mind was as sharp as ever at the time.
Source:
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20120209/tai-chi-falls-parkinsons-120109/#ixzz1n8wmExs2
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