Taiji is a Pain-free Movement and Balance for Life

When practicing the slow rhythmical movements of Taiji, all the joints of the body are worked gently through their natural range of motion. It is a well-known fact that one must keep joints mobile to ease or prevent arthritic pain. Many physiotherapists would give gentle exercises to mobilize the joints and therefore I see Taiji as being a kind of D.I.Y physiotherapy. In medical terms, the movements of Taiji will cause the bodies synovia membranes to produce the lubricant (synovial fluid) within the joints and thus allow the joints to "glide" more easily. Click here to learn Bacterial Corneal Ulcer in TCM.

A study at Emory University shows significant decrease in the incidents of falling after practicing the ancient art of Taiji.
The Emory study looked at seven therapeutic benefits for Taiji:
l. Continuous movement.
2. Small to large degrees of motion depending on the individual.
3. Flexed knees with distinct weight shifts between legs.
4. Straightening and extending head and trunk for less "flexed" posture. Attention developed to prevent leaning of trunk or protrusion of the sacrum.
5. Trunk and head rotates as a unit during circular movements that emphasize rotation. Eyes follow movement, promoting head and trunk rotation through eye centering and eye movements.
6. Asymmetrical and diagonal arm and leg movements promote arm swing and rotation around the waist axis.
7. Unilateral weight bearing with constant shifting to and from right and left legs to build strength for unilateral weight bearing and improve unilateral balance through knowledge of one's balance limitations and practice of movements within those limitations.

The core principles of Taiji and Qigong are posture alignment controlled movement. The very nature of Taiji exercises is to work on core stability and balance. Taiji practice makes people feel more confident about movement and posture through practice and therefore as quite a number of falls are caused by lack of confidence this is one way falls are prevented as ones confidence improves. Click here to learn Obstruction of Retinal Artery in TCM.