Tai Chi Tames Chronic Health Conditions

THURSDAY, March 25, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- The ancient Chinese practice of Tai Chi appears to improve balance, flexibility and cardiovascular health in people with such chronic health problems as heart failure, hypertension, arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

So says a review article by researchers at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston.

They analyzed 47 studies that examined the health effects of Tai Chi in patients with various chronic health conditions.

"Overall, these studies reported that long-term Tai Chi practice had favorable effects on the promotion of balance control, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness and reduced the risk of falls in elders," the authors write.

Cardiovascular and respiratory function improvements were noted in healthy people and those who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery as well as people with heart failure, hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

"Benefit was also found for balance, strength, and flexibility in older subjects; falls in frail elderly subjects; and pain, stress and anxiety in healthy subjects," the authors write.

They add the actual ways that Tai Chi provides these benefits are not well known.

The article appears in a recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

More information

The Arthritis Foundation has more about Tai Chi.