Medical Qi Gong and Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's is a disease of the central nervous system which can include tremors, slowness of movement, stiffness, decline in cognitive ability, and mood disorders. As the disease progresses, balance and difficulty walking becomes a major issue, with falls becoming common, and the accompanying broken bones and injury.

A February 9, 2012 study in The New England Journal of Medicine measured whether Qi Gong was effective in improving stability and balance in patients with Parkinson's disease. They found Qi Gong:

Reduces balance impairments in Parkinson's patients
Lowered the incidence of falls
Improved overall functional capacity
Health care providers encourage exercise in treating Parkinson's, but few programs have been proven effective. In this study, Qi Gong actually outperformed resistance training and stretching.