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Many
older adults are turning to complementary health approaches for their health
and well-being, particularly mind and body practices like relaxation
techniques, yoga, tai chi, and qi gong. Here’s what the science says about mind
and body practices for some common aging-related conditions:
Osteoarthritis. Practicing tai
chi—a traditional Chinese form of exercise—may be helpful for managing
osteoarthritis of the knee. Guidelines issued by the American College of
Rheumatology conditionally recommend tai chi, along with other nondrug
approaches, for this condition.
Sleep problems. Using relaxation techniques, such as
progressive relaxation, guided imagery, biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and deep
breathing exercises, before bedtime may help you sleep.
Shingles. Could tai chi help you
avoid getting shingles by increasing your immunity to the virus that causes
shingles and by boosting your immune response to the shingles vaccine? Preliminary
evidence suggests it might.
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