Oregon study: Tai chi helps ease symptoms of Parkinson's The New England Journal of Medicine Feb 9.
Listen to the NPR Story:20120209_me_20
NEW YORK (AP) — The ancient Chinese exercise of tai chi improved balance and lowered the risk of falls in a study of people with Parkinson's disease.
Tai chi, with its slow, graceful movements, has been shown to improve strength and aid stability in older people, and has been studied for a number of ailments. In the latest study, led by Fuzhong Li of the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene, tai chi was tested in 195 people with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's.
The findings are in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. The study was paid for by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Instruction DVD here.
Scroll down for more photos in slide show
A Major Highlight of the 12th Annual Event:Laddie Sacharko presents David Shaver a Tai Chi sword on the occasion of his 75th birthday, officially a "longevity master"! Dave Ritchie officiated as Master of Ceremonies.
