Have you “hit the tiger’s ears” today?
Peacock movements, monkey offers fruit to God and hitting the tiger’s ears? It all sounds rather peculiar, but these are just some of the names of martial art exercises which are said to help arthritis, hypertension, improve muscle coordination and prevent falls in the elderly.
News reports this week have suggested that the 700-year-old Chinese martial art, Tai Chi, is proving popular among the elderly – both in Australia and internationally.
A study released this Monday (16 May) found that Tai Chi, which means ‘supreme ultimate fist’, offers a range of exercises specially designed to aid and relax the elderly.
Researchers analysed 35 reviews which assessed the health effects of Tai Chi.
The reviews looked at the impact of Tai Chi on a variety of diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, osteoarthritis, Parkinson’s disease, musculoskeletal pain, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
The study’s authors revealed that there was clear evidence to suggest that Tai Chi offered general health benefits for older people, including effective fall prevention methods which focus on balance as well as an improvement in general mental health.
“Our overview showed that Tai Chi, which combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow and gentle movements, may exert exercise-based general benefits for fall prevention and improvement of balance in older people, as well as some meditative effects for improving psychological health,” the study authors wrote.
The study will be published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in the coming days.
