There is growing evidence that the mind-body Chinese martial art of tai chi has great value in addressing some of Parkinson’s most problematic symptoms, like balance and falling.
Parkinson’s affects one’s proprioception, which is the ability to sense the position of your body in space. A report in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that tai chi helps train sensory neurons in the inner ear and stretch receptors in the muscles and ligaments which improve balance in people with Parkinson’s. Tai chi also improves muscle strength and flexibility, which makes it easier to recover from a stumble. A fear of falling makes you more likely to fall; tai chi can help reduce that fear.
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