The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi: 12 Weeks to a Healthy Body, Strong Heart, and Sharp Mind (Harvard Health Publications) by Wayne Peter M. & Fuerst Mark L

Author:Wayne, Peter M. & Fuerst, Mark L. [Wayne, Peter M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Published: 2013-06-10T14:00:00+00:00

Several studies have been completed or are under way to evaluate Tai Chi for COPD.

In our group, we have completed a small, pilot randomized controlled trial designed to determine the feasibility of administering a Tai Chi program to improve the quality of life and exercise capacity in COPD patients. We randomized 10 patients, average age 66, with moderate-to-severe COPD, to 12 weeks of Tai Chi plus usual care or usual care alone. The Tai Chi training consisted of a one-hour class, twice weekly, that emphasized gentle movement, relaxation, meditation, and breathing techniques.21

Our participants told us they enjoyed the Tai Chi program and said they could participate without experiencing any adverse reactions. After 12 weeks, the Tai Chi participants felt significant improvement in chronic respiratory symptoms compared to the usual-care group. The Tai Chi group also had slight improvements in their six-minute walking distance, depression, and shortness of breath. Our conclusion: Tai Chi as an exercise appears to be a safe, positive adjunct to standard care and warrants further investigation. Led by Drs. Gloria Yeh and Marilyn Moy, our group is now conducting a much larger trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health; this trial compares Tai Chi to both meditative-breathing exercises (isolated out of the Tai Chi program) as well as to a non-exercise education program.

An already completed large, randomized controlled COPD trial conducted in Hong Kong compared a program of Tai Chi Qigong to walking plus breathing exercises or usual care for three months. The Tai Chi Qigong group improved key measures of respiratory function and participated in higher levels of activity. The group also reported greater improvements in respiratory health–related quality of life.22

After initial gains in lung function from a pulmonary rehabilitation program, COPD patients typically lose these benefits after about six months. One reason may be due to poor compliance with existing forms of home exercise, such as walking and weight training. Studies show that Tai Chi–like exercises, including Qigong, may help sustain the gains COPD patients make after they complete pulmonary rehabilitation.23

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