Effects of T'ai Chi on Serotonin, Nicotine Dependency, Depression, and Anger in Hospitalized Alcohol-Dependent Patients.

Soft arts like Shaolin Rou Quan
the predecessor of T'ai chi, was
shown to be an effective nursing
intervention  in hospitalized
alcohol-dependent patients.
The particular study may raise
hope for all those who suffer
from other forms of addiction.

Changes in brain volume and cognition in a randomized trial of exercise and social interaction in a community-based sample of non-demented Chinese elders

The findings differ from previous clinical trials in showing increases in brain volume and improvements in cognition with a largely non-aerobic exercise (Shaolin Rou Quan aka Tai Chi). In addition, intellectual stimulation through social interaction was associated with increases in brain volume as well as with some cognitive improvements.

Tai Chi Chuan training improves the pulmonary function of asthmatic children

Children practicing Tai Chi Chuan  have a significant improvement in pulmonary function.

Relationships between balance and cognition in patients with subjective cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer disease

Balance impairments are common in patients with Alzheimer disease. In this stucy all aspects of balance control deteriorate with increasing severity of cognitive impairment and that executive function plays an important role in balance control. Physical therapists should pay attention to these findings both in clinical practice and in future research. This is why Shaolin Rou Quan (Tai Ji ) should be prefered as a form of exercise.

Exercise intervention in brain injury: a pilot randomized study of Tai Chi Qigong

This study provides preliminary evidence that a brief Tai Chi -Qigong exercise intervention programme may improve mood and self-esteem for individuals with traumatic brain injury.

Using a novel exercise programme for patients with muscular dystrophy: a qualitative study

Qigong was accepted as a novel exercise regimen and there was a wide variation of experience regarding it among the participants.One major advantage of qigong is the ability to adapt the different exercises to the physical capability of the practitioner. 

A preliminary study of the effects of Tai Chi and Qigong medical exercise on indicators of metabolic syndrome, glycaemic control, health-related quality of life, and psychological health in adults with elevated blood glucose

A preliminary study of the effects of Tai Chi and Qigong medical exercise on indicators of metabolic syndrome, glycaemic control, health-related quality of life, and psychological health in adults with elevated blood glucose

Tai Chi and Qigong for the treatment and prevention of mental disorders

Evidence suggests that these practices may be effective at treating a range of physical health conditions, and at improving health-related quality of life.

Effect of health Baduanjin Qigong for mild to moderate Parkinson's disease

Ba Duan Jin improved the gait performance, functional mobility and sleep quality in older adults with PD at the 6-month follow up.

It is as an alternative home exercise program for older adults in rehabilitation for Parkingson Disease.

Tai Chi for Disease Activity and Flexibility in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis—A Controlled Clinical Trial

The results suggest that tai chi improves flexibility and positively influences levels of disease activity in AS patients. Tai chi, which is easily accessible to patients, may also be an effective intervention for further randomized studies.

Tai chi exercise for treatment of pain and disability in people with persistent low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

This is the first pragmatic randomized controlled trial of tai chi exercise for people with low back pain.
It showed that a 10-week tai chi program improved pain and disability outcomes and can be considered a safe and effective intervention for those experiencing long-term low back pain symptoms.

Outcomes of a pilot training program in a qigong massage intervention for young children with autism

A qigong massage intervention based on Chinese medicine and delivered by a doctor of Chinese medicine was shown to improve sensory impairment and adaptive behavior in a small controlled study of young children with autism.

Effect of Tai Chi in adults with rheumatoid arthritis

This preliminary study suggests that group Tai Chi is a safe and potentially promising complementary therapy for adults with functional class I or II RA. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that Tai Chi seems to be associated with trends to improvement in disease activity that relates to both symptoms of pain and the cognitive coping process, which in turn is related to physical and psychological disability. Our results are consistent with two non-randomized studies of Tai Chi for RA that reported that there was no significant exacerbation of joint symptoms for 10 weeks of Tai Chi  It is also consistent with other Tai Chi studies in which Tai Chi had beneficial effects on tension, anxiety and depression .

Tai Chi is effective in treating knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial

Current guidelines consider non-pharmacological treatment modalities as the cornerstones in modern management of OA with information, exercise, and weight loss as core treatments (NICE 2008). Although this trial involved instruction by a Tai Chi master and selected participants, the study results might encourage physiotherapists to consider Tai Chi as an alternative, or additional, form of exercise for persons with knee OA.

Qigong training and effects on stress, neck-shoulder pain and life quality in a computerised office environment

There was a small significant improvement of neck pain and disability following therapy.

Qigong training may reduce neck disability in office workers. 

Primary prevention for risk factors of ischemic stroke with Baduanjin exercise intervention in the community elder population: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

A rare form of Qi Gong aspires at serving patients with ischemic stroke in the community elder population with high risk factors.

Impact of Qigong on quality of life, pain and depressive symptoms in older adults admitted to an intermediate care rehabilitation unit: a randomized controlled trial

A structured Qigong intervention, together with usual care,
might contribute to improve quality of life of patients admitted to a
post-acute intermediate care rehabilitation unit, compared to usual care.

A pilot evaluation on a stress management programme using a combined approach of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for elementary school teachers.

Mindful exercises including Qi Gong, along with cognitive behavioral therapy may help elementary teachers significantly reduce, depression, anxiety and stress

Psycho-physical and neurophysiological effects of qigong on depressed elders with chronic illness

The results provided preliminary evidence for the hypotheses that the antidepressive effect of qigong exercise could be explained by improvement in psychosocial functioning and possibly down-regulation of hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Complementary and alternative therapies for fibromyalgia syndrome. Systematic review, meta-analysis and guideline

The development of the guidelines was coordinated by the German Interdisciplinary Association for
Pain Therapy ("Deutsche Interdisziplinären Vereinigung für  Schmerztherapie", DIVS),
9 scientific medical societies and 2 patient self-help organizations.

Meditative movement therapies like qi gong  and tai chi, are strongly recommended.