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Can Tai Chi Improve Your Physcial Capacity?

Summary: What is it about the practice of Tai Chi that makes it so beneficial to patients with chronic diseases?
Air Date: 10/30/15
Duration: 10
Host: Leigh Vinocur, MD
Guest Bio: Darlene Reid, PhD, BMR
Darlene ReidDarlene Reid obtained her Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation (PT) from the University of Manitoba in 1979 and her PhD from the University of British Columbia in 1988.

Darlene was a Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia and chaired in the Research Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences where she has guided considerable expansion of the program.

In the fall of 2014, she moved to the University of Toronto and began her tenure as Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy in January 2015.

Dr. Reid's involvement in organizations at the national level has furthered the development and interdisciplinary collaboration of cardiopulmonary physical therapy, including: Co-Chair of the Scientific Program of the Canadian Respiratory Conference; the Canadian Physiotherapy Cardiorespiratory Society of the Lung Association; Cardiorespiratory Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association; the Canadian Thoracic Society COPD Guidelines Committee on Exercise; Canadian Thoracic Society–COPD Guidelines–National Implementation and Dissemination Committee.

Professor Reid has received recognition awards for leadership from the National Lung Association, a Killam Research Fellowship, a Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia Research Award, and a Silver Quill Award for Outstanding Knowledge Translation article in the Physiotherapy Canada journal.
Can Tai Chi Improve Your Physcial Capacity?
According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, roughly 100 million Americans are suffering from chronic pain.

Research has shown that practicing Tai Chi could be useful for older people that have several chronic pain issues.

Tai Chi is used to self-heal by the slow and gentle movements that help boost muscle and power, as well as improve balance and posture.

Researchers wanted to find out how effective Tai Chi was in patients who had long-term chronic conditions, and they looked at electronic research databases for relevant studies on Tai Chi.

The researchers found that Tai Chi was associated with improvement in physical capacity and muscle strength.

How else can Tai Chi fight chronic disease?

Listen in as Darlene Reid, PhD, BMR, shares how Tai Chi can help improve your physical capacity, as well as how it can help ease chronic pain.