Sitting and practicing Tai Chi may improve recovery in elderly stroke survivors

After 3 months, stroke survivors who practiced seated tai chi had better hand and arm strength, shoulder range of motion, balance control, depressive symptoms, and activities of daily living compared with those who participated in a standard stroke rehabilitation program.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke recommend that people begin stroke rehabilitation within 7 days of a stroke and continue for up to 6 months

Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial art that involves a series of slow, careful movements involving the hands, arms, neck, legs and core muscles, combined with deep breathing

"Tai Chi has a long history as a form of exercise in China

The study was conducted at two traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in Kunming, China

Participants in the seated tai chi group received a week of individual training with a tai chi instructor during their hospital stay, as well as a self-guided video of home practice, three days a week for 11 weeks

The researchers analyzed questionnaires and assessment tools and found:

• People in the Tai Chi group had better hand and arm function and sitting balance control compared to the standard stroke rehabilitation group

  
  

• Compared to the control group, participants in the Tai Chi group experienced significant reductions in depressive symptoms, better shoulder range of motion, and significant improvements in activities of daily living and quality of life

  
  

• More than half of those in the Tai Chi group continued to practice after the 12-week intervention

  
  

"Sitting Tai Chi can be practiced in a chair or wheelchair, which is very convenient because it can be performed at home

This is the first randomized controlled trial to focus on a modified seated tai chi routine and find improvements in short-term outcomes in a group of patients who may have difficulty adhering to a standard stroke rehabilitation exercise program

"My follow-up research will measure the long-term effects of sedentary Tai Chi," Zhao said

One of the limitations is that the study was conducted in only two centers

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of long-term disability, according to the American Heart Association

Co-authors Janita Pak Chun Chau, PhD; Huiqiao Chen, PhD; Qiang Meng, PhD; Qizhou Cai, PhD; Xiao Qi, MD; Yali Zhao, MD: Rong He, MD; and Li Qin, MD, the researchers' disclosures are listed in the manuscript

The researchers say there is no external funding

The research, published in the scientific journals of the American Heart Association, was peer-reviewed
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