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Parkinson'sProf. ErnstTai Chi

Tai chi in Parkinson’s disease

JR

Professor Ernst from the Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter & Plymouth UK has reviewed the literature and concludes that studies of “tai chi for PD (Parkinson’s disease) are feasible but scarce.”

Here’s what we know from the 3 best studies.

  • In 1 study, tai chi was superior to conventional exercise in terms of the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) and prevention of falls.
  • Another study found no effects of tai chi on the ability to move about compared to qigong.
  • The third study failed to show effects of tai chi compared to a wait list control group.

The bottom line?
Professor Ernst recommends “Further research is required to investigate whether there are specific benefits of tai chi for people with PD, such as its potential effect on balance and on the frequency of falls.”

4/1/08 21:50 JR

Hi, I’m JR

John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

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