There are known forms of exercise shown to help COPD patients improve their exercise capacity, breathing symptoms, and overall quality of life, but this new study’s purpose was to determine if Sun-style Tai Chi could also be used an effective form of exercise therapy. Sun-style Tai Chi is a form of martial arts that has also demonstrated an ability to help people who suffer from conditions such as arthritis. Sun-style Tai Chi requires movements that are less difficult than typical Tai Chi exercises, and many ages are capable of performing this style.¹

Researchers at the Concord Repatriation General Hospital and the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia worked with 42 patients with COPD. Each participant underwent assessment to determine exercise capacity (done through a walking test), and completed the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (which indicates the effect COPD has on quality of life). One half of the group attended Tai Chi lessons twice weekly, and also performed it at home. The Tai Chi training that participants performed met the moderate intensity requirements of exercise training for people afflicted with COPD. The remaining half of the group continued on with their usual medical management protocol, which did not include exercise.²

Upon completion of the study, the results showed those who participated in the Tai Chi exercises walked significantly longer than they had in the initial walking test, compared to those who did not perform any exercise therapy. Those who performed the Tai Chi training also displayed higher scores on the questionnaire, which indicated an improvement in quality of life.³

Lead study author, Regina Wai Man Leung from the Concord Repatriation General Hospital, said:

With increasing numbers of people being diagnosed with COPD, it is important to provide different options for exercise that can be tailored to suit each individual. The results from this small sample provide compelling evidence that Tai Chi is an effective training program for patients with COPD, and could be considered as an alternative to the usual exercise training programs that are available in pulmonary rehabilitation.⁴

Previous studies have also shown Tai Chi capable of increasing brain size, therefore lowering the risk of dementia and other brain related diseases. As more research develops the wisdom of Tai Chi continues to develop increasing scientific backing.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

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The results of the research were based on an eight month randomized trial comparing those who participated in Tai Chi to a group who did not. This trial showed increases in brain volume as well as cognitive improvements. The group that did not participate in Tai Chi actually showed brain shrinkage, consistent with what has been observed with people in that age group.³

Studies show that dementia, and the gradual cognitive degeneration that follows it, is associated with brain shrinkage, as nerve cells and their connections are eventually lost. As with the recent trials, previous trials have shown that aerobic exercise can increase brain volume, and possibly even improved memory. Research indicates that aerobic exercise can be linked to an increase in production of brain growth factors. Although the findings were promising, it is still not known whether or not forms of exercise like Tai Chi, which requires a significant mental component, could lead to similar changes in the production of those brain growth factors.⁴

“The ability to reverse this trend with physical exercise and increased mental activity implies that it may be possible to delay the onset of dementia in older persons through interventions that have many physical and mental health benefits,” said lead author Dr. James Mortimer, professor of epidemiology at the University of South Florida, College of Public Health.⁵

“If this is shown, then it would provide strong support to the concept of ‘use it or lose it’ and encourage seniors to stay actively involved both intellectually and physically,” Dr. Mortimer said.⁶

With the promising results of this research, more is needed to help determine whether or not mental and physical exercise can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia.⁷

“Epidemiologic studies have shown repeatedly that individuals who engage in more physical exercise or are more socially active have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Mortimer said. “The current findings suggest that this may be a result of growth and preservation of critical regions of the brain affected by this illness.”⁸

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