Guest guest Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 This article is from a site that Dr. Mercola recommended. ----- Original Message ----- From: " HSI - " <HSIoptinMC@...> > Supremely Ultimate > > Health Sciences Institute e-Alert > > March 18, 2004 > > ************************************************************** > You have received this e-mail because you signed up to > receive the HSI e-Alert through a special arrangement with > Dr. Mercola's e-Healthy News e-letter. If you wish to > permanently remove yourself from this mailing list, follow > the instructions at the bottom of this page. Thank You. > ************************************************************** > > Dear Reader, > > A friend of mine named Rob told me a funny story about how > he came to enroll in a class to learn Tai Chi; the exercise > system that consists of a specific series of gentle physical > movements. > > One day Rob was talking with his neighbor, who was about 70 > years old. The topic of Tai Chi came up. And although he'd > never practiced it himself, the little he knew, he explained > in painstaking detail. He began by telling her that Tai Chi > Chuan (translated as " supreme ultimate force " ) is based on > an ancient Chinese martial art; sometimes described as a > combination of yoga and meditation. He drew out the details > and, for someone that had never done Tai Chi, positioned > himself as quite an expert. > > After he finished, his neighbor told him that she'd been > doing Tai Chi for more than 10 years. > > Rob was so embarrassed (and intrigued) that he went along to > a Tai Chi class with her and was surprised to find that just > about everyone in the class was older than he (Rob was in > his early 30s at the time). > > He tells me that in the beginning he thought of Tai Chi as a > unique way to exercise, but came to feel that he got more > out of it than just an easy-going workout. As it happens, > there are studies out there to back Rob up on that. And now > researchers have systematically reviewed nearly 50 separate > Tai Chi studies to reveal some wide-ranging health benefits > that Rob and his classmates may be enjoying. > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > Balance, strength and more > -------------------------------------------------------------- > > This month, the Archives of Internal Medicine published the > results of a study conducted by researchers at the Tufts-New > England Medical Center in Boston. The Tufts team used 11 > English and Chinese databases to access data on 47 studies > that examined the health benefits of Tai Chi on patients > with chronic health problems such as multiple sclerosis and > heart disease. > > In analyzing the data, researchers took into consideration > the designs of the studies, outcome assessments, duration of > follow-up and other factors that varied considerably from > one study to the next. In their description of the results > they wrote: " Benefits were reported in balance and strength, > cardiovascular and respiratory function, flexibility, immune > system, symptoms of arthritis, muscular strength, and > psychological effects. " > > The researchers noted that in older patients with chronic > conditions, Tai Chi appeared to be a safe and effective > means of promoting flexibility, balance control and > cardiovascular fitness. But one thing that these 47 studies > didn't adequately address is exactly how Tai Chi helps > produce these positive health benefits. Observing that some > of the studies had limitations or biases, the researchers > noted that scientific conclusions cannot be drawn just yet. > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > Reversing fear > -------------------------------------------------------------- > > The Tufts study provides a good overview of Tai Chi > research. But it's also helpful to examine individual > studies to understand specific benefits. > > For instance, a 2003 Korean study examined a style of Tai > Chi that was developed to reduce the symptoms and improve > physical functioning of patients with arthritis. For three > months, 22 women with osteoarthritis participated in the Tai > Chi program. Their progress was compared to 21 women who > also had osteoarthritis, fit the same demographic profile of > the Tai Chi group, but didn't participate in the exercises. > Results showed that those in the Tai Chi group experienced > significantly less pain and stiffness and reported fewer > difficulties performing daily functions compared to the non- > exercising group. > > And in the e-Alert " Take My Pasta... Please! " (9/12/03), I > told you about a 2002 study reported in the journal Applied > Nursing Research. In this study of older women, Tai Chi > exercises created significant improvements in balance, > functional mobility, and a reduced fear of falling after > twelve weeks of 30-minute classes, taken just two times each > week. > > The importance of easing the fear of falling in older people > can't be overstated. According to a report on National > Public Radio, about 40 percent of all nursing home > admissions result from a fall that leaves an elderly person > at least somewhat disabled. Ironically, the fear of falling > itself can also be considered a disability when it prevents > an elderly person from performing simple daily tasks or > venturing out of the house. But when exercise methods - such > as Tai Chi - improve mobility, confidence is restored and > the risk of falling is reduced. > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > Moving in sync > -------------------------------------------------------------- > > The single drawback to Tai Chi is that, unlike walking or > lifting light weights, you can't simply slip on some sweats > and start doing it. Tai Chi involves specific series of > movements - called " forms " - so getting started requires > some training; either from a teacher, or through video or > DVD instruction. > > Obviously, learning from a DVD at home offers the > convenience of choosing a time that's best for you. But most > people probably learn the forms better and are more likely > to stick to the regimen when they have a live instructor. > Rob tells me that, in his opinion, classes make a big > difference. He describes the group dynamic as " nurturing " > when going through the forms and moving in the same patterns > as the people around you. > > If you've tried Tai Chi yourself and have useful tips for > people who are just getting started, please send an e-mail > and I'll share your experience with other HSI members. > Good Health, > > > Health Sciences Institute > > > Sources: > " The Effect of Tai Chi on Health Outcomes in Patients with > Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review " Archives of > Internal Medicine, Vol. 164, No. 5, 3/8/04, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov > " Tai Chi Helps People with Chronic Health Problems " Alison > McCook, Reuters Health, 3/10/04, reutershealth.com > " Tai Chi 'Improves Body and Mind' " BBC News, 3/9/04, > news.bbc.co.uk > " Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on Pain, Balance, Muscle > Strength, and Perceived Difficulties in Physical Functioning > in Older Women with Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical > Trial " Journal of Rheumatology, Vol. 30, 2003, jrheum.com > " Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on Balance, Functional > Mobility, and Fear of Falling Among Older Women " Applied > Nursing Research, vol. 15, no. 4, November 2002, > ncbi.nlm.nih.gov > " Senior Health: Overcoming Fears of Falling " National Public > Radio, 11/25/03, npr.org > " HRT a Big Mistake, Says Health Body " Miranda Korzy, > Wells, The Age, 3/6/04, theage.com.au > > Copyright ©1997-2004 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. > The e-Alert may not be posted on commercial sites without > written permission. > > AOL HTML links > ************************************************************** > <a href= " http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/650SDPM/W650E380/home.cfm " >ATTENTION MEN:Getting a New Edge on Life Now Costs 20% Less!</a> > <a href= " http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/AVIS/W600E328/home.cfm " >THROW YOUR GLASSES AWAY FOR LIFE!</a> > > ************************************************************** > Before you hit reply to send us a question or request, > please visit here > http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/questions.html > > ************************************************************** > If you'd like to participate in the HSI Forum, search past > e-Alerts and products or you're an HSI member and would like > to search past articles, visit http://www.hsibaltimore.com > > ************************************************************** > To learn more about HSI, call (203) 699-4416 or visit > http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/HSI/WHSID618/home.cfm. > > ************************************************************** > If you want to end your HSI e-Alert subscription or you need > to change your e-mail address, please follow the > instructions below. Your changes will be effective > immediately. However, if you do not follow the instructions > below and simply hit reply instead, we may not receive your > request and cannot assure you that it will be completed. > > ******* > Please note: We sent this e-mail to: > <kglg@...> > because you or someone using your e-mail address subscribed to this service. > > ******* > To manage your e-mail subscription, use our web interface at: > http://www.agoramail.net/Home.cfm?List=HSIoptinMC > To cancel or for any other subscription issues, write us at: > Order Processing Center > Attn: Customer Service > P.O. Box 925 > Frederick, MD 21705 USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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