Tai Chi is well known as a form of exercise and stretching. Based on martial arts, tai chi promotes movement and meditation. Originally, it was a martial art itself, but over the years has become more widely used as a form of rehabilitation and health promotion. It is gentle yet effective when it comes to both, especially for the elderly who are looking for a low impact form of exercise.
Recently, a study found that seated Tai Chi had some pretty profound benefits when it came to those that had survived a stroke. The team found that seated Tai Chi had equal or better results than traditional physical therapy when it came to improvements in hand and arm strength, range of motion in the shoulders, balance, and even preventing depression. In other words, Tai Chi looks like it could be an alternative form of therapy for those that have had a stroke in the past.
Based out of Kunming, China, the team published their findings in the medical journal, Stroke. They partnered with the American Heart Association. Hopefully, this research acts as a starting point for future researchers and helps advance our knowledge of how to help those who have suffered from a stroke recover more thoroughly.
Exercise is important for everyone. While this research clearly focused on those that have suffered from a stroke in the past and are fighting toward regaining the use of their body that they once experienced, it isn’t only this population that can benefit from gentle exercises like Tai Chi. Exercise of any sort is important, especially as we age. Besides preventing things like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, exercise has also been linked to preventing and slowing the spread of dementia, improving outcomes for those that are suffering from bone density loss or osteoporosis, and for helping to prevent falls and other injuries. Exercise helps us to stay happy and healthy, both mentally and physically.
But exercise can be complicated. While one person might be able to go out for long walks or bike rides, this isn’t possible with all. That’s why it’s so helpful to see that things like Tai Chi can have a positive impact on seniors. Exercise doesn’t need to be intense to be effective. It just needs to be present and consistent.
If you would like to learn more about exercise and its benefits, please speak with a medical professional. They will be able to give you more accurate and targeted information when it comes to health and how you can use exercise to help yourself and your family.
In the meantime, we’re here to help in our own way. In-home care is designed to help seniors live their lives how they want to, without making major changes. It allows seniors to live in their own homes, and continue to do the things there that they enjoy, all while supplying them with the support necessary to keep them safe. If you’d like to learn more about what we do and how it might benefit you, please feel free to let us know. One of our trained caregivers would be happy to speak more with you.
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