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Health InsuranceParkinson’s Illness & TAI CHI THERAPY
by:
Bill Douglas
Copyright 2005 Bill Douglas
In a special to CNN, the Mayonnaise Clinic’s mayoclinic.com according that, “Parkinson's illness is progressive, meaning the signs and symptoms become worse over time. But although Parkinson's may eventually be disabling, the illness often progresses gradually, and most folk have galore years of productive living after a diagnosis.” This would-be indicate that there may be effective interventions that could possibly slow the progress of the disease. Once
we get such a diagnosis, our 1st reaction mightiness be to withdraw and give up. However, the old proverb “use it or lose it” tells us that simply the opposite is true. If you have Parkinson’s, you’d likely be better off to use everything your body is, every which way, on a regular basis.
Tai Chi movement’s gentle balance enhancing motions can evidently help the Parkinson’s patient by portion to reduce the gradual loss of balance that Parkinson’s sufferers often experience. However, there may be more much it offers. For example, Tai Chi movements rotate the human body in simply about 95% of the route the body can move, once
a long form is practiced. This is far on the far side
what another exercise offers, and in fact the nearest would-be be several swimming strokes, which together would-be only rotate the body in simply about 65% of the route it can move. For Parkinson’s sufferers, or anyone for that matter, this would-be indicate that by “using” 95% of the body’s possible motion several times a week, the possibility of “losing” the ability to do so diminishes accordingly. This isn’t rocket science, but simple common sense.
Yet, possibly Parkinson’s patients have even as more to gain from Tai Chi. A few years ago I instructed several classes at local medical centers. I was continually defeated because although I’d seen emerging reports that Tai Chi was beneficial to folk with Parkinson’s Disease, or arthritis, or chronic hypertension, etc., even as although the departments that specialized in those conditions were often simply down the hall from my Tai Chi class . . . they mightiness as well have been a million miles away. Because the physicians who ran those departments were either ignorant of or unwilling to refer their patients to the possibilities that Tai Chi offered their lives.
I remember though, that at one medical center a visionary brain doctor began to refer patients with balance disorders to my Tai Chi classes and the result was really beneficial for his patients. Another doctor really wrote prescriptions for my Tai Chi classes to treat the chronic high blood pressure of his patients, who’d seen a significant drop in their blood pressure since beginning the classes weeks before. A clinical scientist brought me in to teach Qigong (Chi Kung) meditation and Tai Chi to her patient group to enhance their sense of well being and provide effective stress management training. So, even as back then several physicians were seeing the potential Tai Chi offered their clients, and even as more are now, but the number of physicians who are still not informing their patients of Tai Chi’s direct therapeutic or at the least adjunct medical care benefits to their patient’s efforts to deal with their conditions and life, is progressively indefensible in this day and age. Given the research that has exposed the galore physical, mental, and emotional benefits Tai Chi offers, for physicians to not educate themselves on this and share their cognition with each and every patient is equivalent to mal-practice. Health educators should likewise be devising such therapies part of their medical student education programs as well.
Tai Chi for Parkinson’s is being suggested progressively by keep groups and several progressive medical centers, but until everyone that has Parkinson’s knows simply about it, then our activity at Earth Tai Chi & Qigong Day is not done, nor is the medical community’s. There are galore obvious reasons everyone with Parkinson’s should be doing Tai Chi, but it’s the ones that are not yet obvious that may be the most intriguing. One obvious reason is that Tai Chi is the most powerful balance and coordination enhancing exercise known. In galore studies at major universities Tai Chi was found to be Doubly as effective in reducing falls as the another balance enhancing exercises being studied. For folk with Parkinson’s, who often see their balance deteriorate as their condition progresses, it is inexcusable for them to not be abreast of of Tai Chi’s potential benefits at the earliest stage possible piece their balance is still good.
Now, regarding the less obvious reasons Tai Chi may benefit Parkinson’s patients. Some
my married woman and daughter, who co-taught a Tai Chi class together detected
that a young man with severe Parkinson’s tremors . . . wholly lost his tremors once he joined the class in flowing through the Tai Chi movements in class. In another class I was teaching an older man with advanced Parkinson’s attended my classes for galore months, and he always came in really slow with his walker. Once we began the Tai Chi movements he no longer used his walker, and had knowing the entire long form of Tai Chi I taught, which was over 15 minutes of around-the-clock ever-changing forms. His form was unique and tailored for his limitations, but however a challenging set of exercises he was able to accomplish without the use of his walker. What do these anecdotal experiences bode for others with Parkinson’s? I don’t know, but there should be massive research dollars coming from the National Institutes of Health to find out. Given the promise Tai Chi seems to offer folk on so galore profound physical, emotional, and mental fronts from preliminary research, the current total research money earmarked for complimentary and alternative medicine’s (CAM) is a mere pittance.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), now in its sixth year, supports more than 300 research projects and has an calculable
budget of over $120 million for 2005 (up from $50 million in 1999). Total disbursement on CAM by all NIH institutes and centers is increasing
as well, and is expected to reach $315 million by 2005.
Sounds like a lot? However, $120 million is less than “one half of one percent” of the total NIH FY2005 budget. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges the NIH’s total annual budget for FY 2005 is $28.8 billion (http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/05pch8.htm). Remember, we are talking simply about only disbursement more much less than one half of one percentage to study an exercise that preliminary research has shown to: n Lower High Blood Pressure (about 1/3 of Americans have high blood pressure – roughly over 90 million Americans) n Boost Immune Function deeply
(a study sited at drkoop.com indicates that a Tai Chi practicing group was Doubly as resistant to the shingles virus, and researchers believed this would-be carry over to another microorganism resistance as well.) n Dramatically reduce falling injuries by simply about half (complications from falling injuries in older Americans is the 6th leading cause of death for seniors in America)
If Tai Chi only self-addressed
this chronic condition poignant 1/3 of Americans, piece boosting the immune system of all practitioners profoundly, and cutting in half the sixth leading cause of death for seniors, without any negative side effects, that would-be seem to be, for the rational person a reason for gushing massive resources into researching it further. However, Tai Chi’s benefits only begin with the above preliminary findings. We besides cognize that it may really well relieve depression, anxiety, and mood disturbance, as well as reduce Attention deficit disorder symptoms in teenagers diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Disorder Disorder. There are indications that Tai Chi may greatly reduce or even as eliminate chronic pain conditions, and lessen allergic and wheezing reactions, and improve overall metabolism function.
My point is, “where is the massive attention this would-be garner on talk shows, and in health newspaper sections, if this were a drug or surgery that could provide such a apparently massive breakthrough in health treatment?” Peter Chowka, in a brilliant two part series for Natural Health Line, entitled “Complementary & Alternative Medicine in 2000,” wrote, “Conflicts of interest are not uncommon in most aspects of life. But in medicine, the biggest business in the U.S. (over $1.5 trillion a year constituting over 14 percentage of the Gross Domestic Product, according to the National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine report issued Gregorian calendar month 10, 2001), serious conflicts are particularly well entrenched.” Mr. Chowka wrote of physicians like Dr. Marcia Angell adjustment concerns of the “troubling” result massive research money from drug and medical-equipment companies was having on the scientific process. In the New European country Journal of Medicine’s May 18, 2000 issue, Dr. Angel wrote an editorial entitled, “Is Academic Medicine for Sale?” She wrote, "As we spoke with research psychiatrists simply about writing an editorial on the treatment of depression . . . we found really few who did not have fiscal ties to drug companies that do antidepressants. . .The problem is by no means unique to psychiatry. We habitually
encounter similar difficulties in finding editorialists in another specialties, particularly those that involve the heavy use of big-ticket drugs and devices."
So, who can do a multi-billion dollar fortune teaching Tai Chi to people? No one can. Tai Chi cannot be bottled, or mass marketed. It is a decentralised labor intensive industry that employees galore people, but keeps the profits small and local. Yes, there are videos and DVDs that teach Tai Chi effectively, but ultimately even as those who utilize videos are drawn to live class like structures. As I mentioned before with the “anecdotal” experiences of my students with Parkinson’s, Tai Chi seems to offer thing
deeply
beneficial to the quality of life of Parkinson’s sufferers. It inevitably further study. We are in a catch 22, wherever
galore health professionals feel they cannot recommend Tai Chi because too more of the preliminary research is anecdotal. However, once
Tai Chi is jockeying for position to get a crumb of the .5% of total NIH money going to ALL complimentary and alternative medical therapies . . . the result wish be galore long years of millions of folk suffering needlessly from conditions or symptoms of those conditions that Tai Chi could likely safely lessen or even as eliminate.
WHAT DO WE Cognize Just simply about TAI CHI AND PARKINSONS?
Tai Chi is being suggested by several forward thinking medical institutions already. The Cleveland Clinic of Neurobiology
Center encourages Parkinson's Illness patients to seek out a hobby or activity they can enjoy and stick with such as “Tai Chi” and another activities. The Alexian Neurosciences Institute in Illinois offers a course in their The Parkinson's Illness and Movement Disorders Center. Also, the American Parkinson’s Illness Association at Stanford University Medical Center, in it’s “Beyond Pills.... Alternative Approaches to Header with Parkinson's Disease” program, offered “Tai Chi, The Art for Living with Parkinson's” by Mwezo & Jane of Kujiweza Healing Arts. (Learn more at: http://parkinsons.stanford.edu/symposium.html). The Parkinson’s Society of North american country recommends Tai Chi for Parkinson’s patients, suggesting “Tai Chi may prevent or at least slow down the onset of chronic
diseases; in the long run, it can reduce need for reconstructive care.” (http://www.parkinsons.ca/managing.html#taichi)
In the United Kingdom a Parkinson’s Tai Chi study was conducted at Camborne Redruth Community Hospital, Cornwall. Their conclusion of the study was such, “Tai Chi training was well tolerated by PD patients in this study, but had no measurable effect on motor performance exploitation UPDRS score or GAG time. There was a non-significant improvement in quality of life scores (PDQ 39). Larger studies would-be be needful fully to measure the value and efficaciousness of Tai Chi. However our results are encouraging, and provide evidence for its security and tolerability and would-be keep the feasibleness of further study.” (http://www.pdcornwall.org.uk/showarticle.pl?n=30&id=81)
WCHS TV during a news report focusing on Tai Chi’s ability to boost immune system function, besides according that “Tai Chi has besides been shown to help illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and arthritis.” (http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/healthyforlife/2177.shtml)
The Neurology Channel reported, “The slow flowing movements of Tai Chi help maintain flexibility, balance, and relaxation. The Struthers Parkinson’s Center in Minneapolis, which teaches a modified form of Tai Chi, systematically
reports benefits achieved by patients in all stages of Parkinson’s.” (http://www.neurologychannel.com/parkinsonsdisease/surgery.shtml)
Physicians at the Mayonnaise Clinic recommend Tai Chi for Parkinson’s therapy, under their Parkinson’s “self-care” section for avoiding falls, wherever
they suggest you “Ask your doctor or physical healer simply about exercises that improve balance, especially tai chi. Originally developed in China more than 1,000 years ago, tai chi uses slow, graceful movements to relax and strengthen muscles and joints. “
At a popular health website called “RemedyFind.com” viewers can vote on therapies they’ve found benefited their condition, or didn’t benefit it. The rank there for Tai Chi as a Parkinson’s medical care received a rank of 9.8 out of a possible 10. (http://remedyfind.com/rem.asp?ID=13945)
A Study at the University of American state in City found that patients who attended Tai Chi classes for one hour each week for 12-weeks were less likely than a group of control patients to experience an increase in the severity of their condition and a decrease in motor function. . . .[of alternative therapies] the most popular therapies being Tai Chi, yoga, and acupuncture. (http://www.worldhealth.net/p/275,1526.html), (SOURCE/REFERENCE: According by www.reutershealth.com on the Thirteenth Gregorian calendar month 2002)
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported, “Parkinson’s Meets It’s Match in Tai Chi.” In this article they write that Dr. Mark Guttman, director of the Centre for Movement Disorders in Markham, Ontario, recommends folk with Parkinson's do exercises that involve a lot of stretching, similar to the movements of tai chi.
"Tai chi is wonderful; it can help folk with disabilities as well as folk with Parkinson's," he says. He accessorial that studies on animals show exercise induces a change in the brain that prevents the symptom’s of Parkinson’s from emerging.
The Tai Chi teacher for this program, Ms. Embree, spoke of how folk with fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, and Parkinson’s often attend her classes . . . “Doctors are now causing folk here," adds Ms Embree. (for the entire article, go to: PARKINSON’S MEETING IT’S MATCH IN TAI CHI, April, 13, 2005, http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/0304/lvtaichi7.html)
At the National Parkinson’s Foundation site, Melanie M. Brandabur, MD NPF Center of Excellence, University of Illinois at Chicago and Jill Marjama-Lyons, MD NPF Center of Excellence, Shands Jacksonville, wrote, “Most patients derive a great deal of benefit from today's medications and surgical therapies for Parkinson's Illness . . . However, benefits of these therapies can be limited. As time goes by, the medications may not seem as effective as they once were. Side effects or unpredictable response may develop. Surgical therapies are not curative and often treat only chosen aspects of Parkinson's Disease. For these reasons, patients may decide to explore another modalities, such as massage therapy, Tai Chi, yoga, or flavourer preparations to augment their Parkinson's medication . . . Galore patients with Parkinson's Illness have become interested in complementary therapies to supplement medications and another traditional PD treatments. These physicians besides suggest that as Tai Chi and another modalities benefits are exposed by clinical research, physicians wish advocate their use more widely. (http://www.parkinson.org/site/pp.asp?c=9dJFJLPwB&b=238635)
World Tai Chi & Qigong Day joins a growing number of health professionals specializing in fields like Parkinson’s who believe that more much research inevitably to be done to illuminate the full spectrum of benefits Tai Chi offers all folk as well as those specifically with chronic conditions. This wish change more physicians to do Tai Chi a regular prescription written as medical care or adjunct medical care for a host of maladies galore are already enjoying the benefits of for their condition, but paying out of pocket for. Ultimately more and more health insurance plans should and wish do Tai Chi classes a deductible medical expense for their clients. The end result of this shift may bode the savings of hundreds of billions of dollars annually in saved health care price as patients are better trained in self care techniques, training the great visionary Thomas Artificer referred to as “the care and maintenance of the human frame,” which Artificer pictured would-be more and more reduce the need for big-ticket surgeries and life long dependence on medications as human beings maximized their own self healing abilities. Traditional Chinese Medicine has spent centuries developing and evolving self healing technologies like Tai Chi. Now the west can discover simply about their results, and physicians can order them to their patients and our entire society wish be healthier and more abounding for it.
Just simply about the author:
Bill Pol is the Tai Chi Expert at DrWeil.com, Founder of Earth T'ai Chi & Qigong Day (held in 50 nations each year), and has authored and co-authored several books including a ##1 better merchandising Tai Chi book “The Complete Idiot’s Manual to T’ai Chi & Qigong.” Bill’s been a Tai Chi source for The Wall Street Journal, New Dynasty Times, etc. You can discover more simply about Tai Chi & Qigong, and besides contact Bill Pol at http://www.worldtaichiday.org
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