Tai chi for better balance

Results published in The New England Journal of Medicine in February suggest that tai chi may help people with Parkinson’s improve their balance and movement control.

In the study, 195 people with Parkinson’s were divided into 3 exercise groups for twice weekly classes. One group did stretching, one did resistance training, and the third group practised tai chi.

After 6 months, those in the tai chi group performed better when they were tested on strength, movement control, balance, stride length and reach.

Resistance training also offered some benefits. And both the tai chi and resistance training groups had fewer falls than the stretching group.

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