Clinical Implications of Tai Chi Interventions: A Review: Abstract and Introduction

Michael Sieverts

Alex Comments:  If you are local to Los Angeles,  There is a wonderful Qi Gong class for cancer patients offered through the wellness community at Clover park in Santa Monica.  They teach a Qi Gong form called Guo Lin Qi Gong.  This form has a very interesting history.  This class is not just a form of exercise for cancer patients.  There are other aspects of the class that are not easily quantifiable. For example, it is powerful to get a group of people together who are all taking personal responsibility for their health sharing about it.  This aspect of the class the wonderful teacher Michael Sieverts calls, "Social Oncology". After the Qi Gong is taught some of the class then does a Tai Qi form which I have shown in a video below.   Tai Qi is one of the forms of Qi Gong in the same way that hatha yoga is one form of the bigger umbrella of all the yogic disciplines. 

The review of Tai Qi studies below is in part a way to quantify a feeling.  This is difficult to do.  To feel good from practicing is the key.  I hope to see you in the park. 

Tai Chi, a Chinese bodymind exercise, has been used in China for thousands of years for both prevention and therapeutic purposes. In the 1990s, the Western research community started to examine the effectiveness of Tai Chi interventions using scientific research design and standardized outcome measures. A number of reviews of these studies have been published. Based on an extensive literature search, this state-of-the-art review identified 25 such reviews published since 2000, provides a description of them, and summarizes what was learned from these reviews. Although there is still a need to understand more about Tai Chi interventions, especially Tai Chi's mechanism, it is concluded that Tai Chi is a very useful exercise format that can be used for a variety of chronic disease conditions. It requires no equipment and little space, and it can be practiced anytime, anywhere, and by older adults and individuals with chronic diseases. Since short forms (eg, 10 or 24 forms) have been shown to have similar benefits as longer ones, beginners should start using simple, short forms first. Like other exercise interventions, regular practice is a must to be able to gain maximal benefits. Tai Chi can be used safely as a complementary addition to conventional medical treatment, physical therapy, and rehabilitation, as well as with other exercise interventions.

For the entire Review click here

 

Abstract