If you have Parkinson’s Disease (PD) or know someone who has this brain condition, there is some good news for you. Turns out, practising Tai Chi can be really helpful for people with PD.
A study by Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine found that Tai Chi slows down the worsening of PD symptoms, which is great news. It also means that patients who do Tai Chi don't need to increase their Parkinson's medications as quickly as they usually have to.
To understand more about this phenomenon, the team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to Dr Mohan Krishna J, Consultant Neurologist, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad and Dr Keerthi Karanam, Consultant Psychiatry, CARE Hospitals, Hyderabad Information Technology and Engineering Consultancy (HITEC) City, Hyderabad.
Benefits Of Tai Chi For Parkinson’s Disease
The World Health Organisation (WHO) shared that PD gets worse over time, and exhibits symptoms like tremors, painful muscle contractions, difficulty speaking, and dementia. Unfortunately, there is no cure for PD. However, the organisation stated that targeted therapies and medicines can help manage and reduce the symptoms.
Now you may be wondering what Tai Chi is. It is a Chinese form of martial art known for its slow and intentional movements. According to Dr Krishna, exercise is the only intervention that can slow the progression of PD.
Also Read: How Physiotherapy Helps Manage Parkinson's Disease, Expert Answers
"Cognitive movement and cueing, which involves synchronising your movement with an external count, and working out, can help the patients of PD to be independent and improve their quality of life, he added.”
Mental Health Benefits Of Tai Chi
The study published in the British Medical Journal shared that Tai Chi doesn't just help with physical symptoms like movement problems, it also makes a positive difference in other issues that come with PD, like mood changes and complications.
Sharing about the impact of PD on the mind, Dr Karanam said, “PD causes depression in almost 50% of its patients, while up to 80% experience some form of cognitive impairment."
Also Read: Addressing Mental Health In Parkinson's Disease Management
She advised, “To manage both the physical and mental aspects of PD, an integrated approach that addresses both physical and mental health needs is necessary." Fortunately, Tai Chi does exactly that, if the BMJ study is to be believed.
Concluding their responses, both experts shared that medication plays a crucial role, and should not be avoided instead of physical exercise. It enables patients to fully participate in any physical exercise, like Tai Chi, as it helps strengthen the brain to perform activities like walking, balance and strength training. The study concluded that Tai Chi is a long-term, beneficial activity for people with PD. It improves both physical and non-physical symptoms and reduces problems related to the disease. It's a win-win!