| The ancient art of Tai Chi has been used to | | | | improve muscle strength, leading to a reduced risk |
| promote health in China for hundreds of years. | | | | of falls in the elderly. |
| This graceful art uses slow, circular movements | | | | As stated earlier, practicing martial arts can |
| to exercise the body, mind, and consciousness. In | | | | increase strength, balance, coordination, and |
| China, Tai Chi is regarded as one of the best | | | | flexibility. Inevitably, these physical properties |
| overall forms of exercise. This martial art is | | | | dissipate with age. With decreasing physical ability, |
| especially popular with the elderly population | | | | the elderly are susceptible to extreme injury and |
| because it is generally slower than other forms of | | | | death due to falling. Falls are reported to be a |
| exercise and can be practiced without too much | | | | leading cause of accidental death of the elderly. |
| physical exertion. The low velocity, low impact | | | | While it is apparent that martial arts are good for |
| movements can be performed by older individuals | | | | health, it turns out they can also strengthen your |
| experiencing joint degeneration, muscle atrophy, | | | | immune system. We all know that the virus which |
| poor balance, and low stamina. | | | | leads to some sort of disease does not |
| Many studies have been conducted to assess the | | | | completely go away after recovery but remains |
| effects of Tai Chi on metabolism and | | | | dormant in nervous tissue. With age comes a |
| cardiorespiratory response, mental control, | | | | weakened immune system. As one gets older, |
| prevention of falls in the elderly and immune | | | | the virus is more likely to come back. Practicing |
| capacity. The measures taken in these studies | | | | Tai Chi can improve the immune system. Many |
| include metabolic rate, heart rate, ventilation, | | | | studies suggest that the elderly individuals that |
| maximal oxygen uptake, blood pressure, immune | | | | take part in the Tai Chi program are more likely |
| capacity, and number of falls. The results show | | | | to resist the virus. |
| that Tai Chi can be classified as moderate | | | | Proven benefits of Tai Chi training for the elderly |
| exercise, because it does not demand more than | | | | include: increased strength, endurance, flexibility, |
| 55% of maximal oxygen uptake. After comparing | | | | balance, and prevention of osteoporosis. |
| the results of studies, these experts suggest Tai | | | | Improvement in any of these areas leads to a |
| Chi exercise is beneficial to cardiorespiratory | | | | decreased risk of harmful falls. Martial arts are a |
| function, immune capacity, mental control, | | | | safe and effective way to protect against disease |
| flexibility, and balance control. It also helps to | | | | and reduce the negative effects of aging. |