New research shows that tai chi may benefit people with vestibular disorders, a class of conditions that can cause dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, and problems with hearing, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, and concentration. A gentle Chinese martial art, tai chi combines slow, graceful movement with meditation and deep breathing.
For the study, researchers focused on 21 people from an outpatient rehabilitation program. After an eight-week course in tai chi, patients reported improvements in their vestibular symptoms. The study's authors suggest that tai chi may enhance coordination by promoting relaxation, and that the exercise may be useful to patients whose symptoms fail to improve with conventional therapy.
Past studies indicate that tai chi may also be helpful for people dealing with diabetes and arthritis pain, as well as for elderly people seeking to reduce their risk of falling.
