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Tai
chi and qi gong are centuries-old mind and body practices. They both involve certain
postures and gentle movements with mental focus, breathing, and relaxation.
Practicing tai chi may help to:
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Improve balance
and stability in older people and in those with Parkinson’s disease.
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Reduce back
pain and pain from knee
osteoarthritis.
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Improve quality
of life in people with heart
disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses.
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Improve
reasoning ability in older people.
Also, tai chi and qi gong may ease fibromyalgia pain and promote quality
of life. Qi gong may reduce chronic neck pain, but study results are mixed.
In
a recent NCCIH Integrative Medicine Research Lecture, Peter Wayne, Ph.D., of
Harvard Medical School, spoke about the role of tai chi in preserving and
rehabilitating some age- and chronic disease-related mental and physical
decline. Dr. Wayne is research director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at
Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
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