Aerobic in Nature
“Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is a typical mind–body and low–intensity aerobic exercise that involves cognitive training and movement meditation and has positive associations with physiological and psychological conditions3. TCC has metabolic equivalents estimated between 1.5 and 4.0. This aerobic intensity overlaps with brisk walking which has been demonstrated to contribute to the prevention of cognitive decline4, and rehabilitation of dementia5 and stroke6.
Improves Power, Balance and Memory
TCC has been observed to improve power, balance, memory and attention after 6 months7. Moreover, TCC practice can affect the brain prefrontal structure and function8 and improve memory9, as observed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The parietal and occipital cortices in TCC practitioners were found to have thickened through the same method8,10. Electroencephalo–graph (EEG) showed significant theta activities in the fronto–central and centro–parietal cortical areas in TCC practitioners11
TCC have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression12.
Synchrony in the left and right hemisphere, Reduction of Memory Loss.
“After long–term tai chi training, the increased phase synchrony in the left and right hemisphere improves integration of nervous and endothelial metabolic activities in both hemispheres, this result confirmed that TCC may help delay the brain neurological deterioration process. Moreover, the increased connectivity between the PFC and other brain regions relay the ability of TCC training to improve cognition and the anti–memory decline potential.
Integrates sympathetic and parasympathetic innervations
The results of EC showed that long–term TCC training has a positive effect on the control ability of the sympathetic and parasympathetic innervations in PFC and MC. TCC training strengthened the bidirectional coupling between PFC and other regions in neurogenic and endothelial metabolic activities, which compensated for the driver–feedback mechanism. Intriguingly, the coupling direction of the brain was mostly on the left brain in the control group. By contrast, the unidirectional coupling on the right brain regions was more obvious in the TCC group compared with the control group. This suggests that the interactions among brain regions change after long–time TCC training.”
- Source: Tai Chi Chuan exercise related change in brain function as assessed by functional near–infrared spectroscopy Hui Xie, Ming Zhang, Congcong Huo, Gongcheng Xu, Zengyong Li & Yubo Fan Scientific Reports volume 9, Article number: 13198 (2019)
Researchers indicate the significant value of Tai Chi in promoting physical health and benefits the practitioners with various positive health outcomes including muscular strength, aerobic capacity, balance and motor control, prevention of falls, mental health, sleep disorders, fatigue, body mass index, blood pressure, heart rate, etc. (Figure 1) [21]. Tai Chi is already prescribed in therapeutic programs for patients with neurological diseases (Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis), rheumatological disease (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing, spondylitis, fibromyalgia), orthopedic disease (osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, low-back pain, musculoskeletal disorder), cardiovascular disease (acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, congestive heart failure), certain cancers, as well as a pulmonary disease [22].
Builds the Immune System
Tai Chi can increase the levels of immune cells in both innate immune systems and adaptive immune systems. Liu et al. observed a Tai Chi training group with 30 middle-aged participants who practiced Tai Chi for 6 months, four times a week, for 60 min. They found a significant increase in the percentage of natural killer (NK) and NKT cells compared with a control group. There was also T cell improvement, resulting in a higher level of Th1 immune responses and therefore potentially increased anti-viral function in humans [23].