COPD Patients Find Benefit in Practicing Tai Chi
The medical and research establishments continue to reinforce what tai chi practitioners and advocates has known for centuries: tai chi is good for nearly everything that ails you. The latest research finds tai chi may be beneficial for adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.
Australian researchers found a 12-week modified Tai Chi training program helped adults with COPD to improve balance, muscular strength, exercise capacity and quality of life. These findings are published in the December 2012 issue of European Respiratory Journal.
The study author noted the importance of the muscle strength and balance:
Improvement in balance and muscle strength of the lower limbs is a very important in reducing the risk of falls for people with COPD, who are generally more at risk, as their balance tends to be worse than (that of) others in the same age group.
Plus, she added, "a very high percentage of the group really enjoyed Tai Chi."
No matter your age, fitness level or physical abilities, tai chi is an excellent form of exercise. Find a class and give it a try.
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