Tai Chi Research » David Bendall

Tai chi beneficial for older women with osteopaenia.

David Bendall — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:09:02 +0000

A randomized trial carried out by researchers at Texas Tech University found that 24 weeks of tai chi improved general health, vitality, and stride width while decreasing pain compared to a control group. The study involved randomly dividing 61 females aged 65 plus with low bone mass into two groups. The first group practiced tai chi three times per week one hour per session for 24 weeks. The other group was a control group who did not receive tai chi training.

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Workplace tai chi program improves musculoskeletal fitness and psychological well-being among female computer users.

David Bendall — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:42:21 +0000

Researchers at York University in Toronto investigated the effects of a work based tai chi program on musculoskeletal fitness and psychological well-being among female computer users. Fifty-two female employees of the university participated in 12 week tai chi class which met twice a week for 50 minute over lunch hour. Participants were tested on a number of measures of fitness before and after the 12 week tai chi program including resting heart rate, blood pressure, and musculoskeletal fitness measures. There were significant positive results including reductions in resting heart rate, decreased waist circumference and improved hand grip strength. The researchers concluded that the tai chi program was effective in improving musculoskeletal fitness and psychological well-being among female computer users.

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Tai chi found to be one of the most cost-effective fall prevention programs for older adults.

David Bendall — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 22:11:10 +0000

A study comparing the cost-effectiveness of fall prevention programs that reduce fall-related hip fractures in older adults found that group tai chi and the medical management of psychotropic medications were the least costly and most effective methods available.

While the medical management of psychotropic medications as well as tai chi was considered one of the most cost effective programs, it should be noted that since not all older adults take psychotropic medications, this intervention only applies to a subgroup of older adults, while almost all older adults could benefit from tai chi.

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Tai chi reduces DNA damage

David Bendall — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 21:29:24 +0000

Two studies from researchers at the University of Kebangsaan in Malaysia suggest that practicing tai chi leads to reductions in damage to DNA. The first study which compared 35 adults over the age of 45 who had practiced tai chi at least 7 years to 35 sedentary controls. The individuals who practiced tai chi had higher levels of normal DNA and lower levels of mild and severely damaged DNA compared to the controls.

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In a separate study, researchers at the same University followed a group of tai chi participants and matched sedentary controls over the course of a year. They found that after 12 months the sedentary controls had decreased normal DNA and increased severely damaged DNA compared to the tai chi group.

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According to researchers at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda MD, physical activity has been shown in epidemiological reviews to reduce cancer risk. While the reasons for this reduced risk have not been established, improved DNA repair mechanisms is one of the beneficial effects if increased physical activity that may contribute to the reduced risk.

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Tai chi improves whole body stability in individuals with vestibulopathy

David Bendall — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:03:08 +0000

Researchers at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton Canada compared tai chi to vestibular rehabilitation among 26 individuals with vestibulopathy. The 26 individuals were randomly assigned to either 10 weeks of tai chi or 10 weeks of vestibular rehabilitation. Gaze stability improved more in the vestibular rehabilitation group while whole body stability and footfall stability during locomotion improved more in the tai chi group. Gaze stability was correlated to whole body stability in the vestibular rehabilitation group but not in the tai chi group. The findings suggest that both vestibular rehabilitation and tai chi benefit patients with vestibulopathy but through different mechanisms.

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The exercise intensity of tai chi

David Bendall — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:53:20 +0000

Researchers at National Taiwan University Hospital measured the exercise intensity of tai chi. The researchers noted that exercise intensity of tai chi depends on training style, posture and duration. They measured heart rate and oxygen uptake simultaneously in 100 subjects during classical Yang tai chi practice. Heart rate during tai chi was 58% of heart rate reserve and oxygen update was 55% of peak oxygen. The results indicate that classical Yang tai chi is an exercise with moderate intensity. Furthermore, the results were similar across different ages and in each gender.

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Seniors who practice tai chi have improved fitness

David Bendall — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:32:06 +0000

Researchers at the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei compared investigated the fitness level of seniors who practice tai chi to sedentary controls matched by age and body size. 22 male and 19 female tai chi practitioners with an average age of 69 and 12 years of tai chi practice were compared to 18 male and 17 female sedentary subjects. Both the male and female tai chi practitioners had significantly greater fitness measurements then the sedentary controls. The tai chi group had 18-19% greater peak oxygen uptake, greater flexibility and lower body fat compared to the sedentary controls.

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Long term tai chi practitioners show improved finger pointing accuracy.

David Bendall — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:10:54 +0000

Researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University compared the effects of age and tai chi on eye-hand coordination. The study consisted of three groups, a younger control group consisting of 30 university students with an average age of 24, a elderly control group consisting of 30 healthy non-tai chi practicing adults with an average age of 72 and an elderly tai chi group consisting of 31 healthy tai chi practicing adults with an average age of 70 and 7 years of tai chi practice. The study compared reaction time and accuracy in a test in which subjects point towards a dot on a display unit. The younger subjects achieved significantly faster reaction and movement times and better accuracy than the elderly controls in all finger-pointing tasks. The elderly tai chi group had significantly better accuracy than the elderly controls in pointing towards both stationary and moving targets. The accuracy in the tai chi group was similar to the accuracy in the younger control group.

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Tai chi associated with improved eye-hand coordination in the elderly.

David Bendall — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:33:52 +0000

Researchers at Ghang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan studied the effect of tai chi on eye-hand coordination in the elderly. 22 elderly individuals who had practiced tai chi regularly for at least 3 years were compared to a control group of 20 healthy and active elderly individuals who did not practice tai chi. The tai chi group had significantly better test scores on the eye-hand coordination tests than the control group.

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Tai chi improves symptoms and quality of life in patients with moderate heart failure.

David Bendall — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:30:43 +0000

A study done at Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, UK investigated the effect of tai chi on exercise tolerance in patients with moderate heart failure. 52 patients were randomly assigned to 16 weeks of tai chi or standard care without exercise rehabilitation. While there were not statistically significant improvements to exercise tolerance, the study found statistically significant improvements in symptoms scores of heart failure and depression scores in the tai chi group. The researchers observed that there were no adverse exercise related problems in the tai chi group and that the training was enjoyed by all.

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