With millions of recovering COVID patients around the world, new approaches in treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may well involve some ancient treatments as well. Research has shown that Tai Chi and its related Qigong breathing exercises improve lung function in COPD. This has profound implications for recovering COVID patients.
A recent article in Harvard Medical School’s news states “Tai chi — a gentle, flowing form of exercise practiced widely in China — has gained popularity in the United States in recent years, spurred in part by growing evidence for its health benefits. Since the late 1950s, hundreds of studies have suggested that tai chi may benefit people with a wide range of medical conditions, including COPD.”
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/tai-chi-promising-for-copd
As a result of my own experiences with breathing issues after being so sick last year. I know how valuable Tai Chi can be and I personally attribute my recovery to the breathing exercises in Tai Chi. Over the last year, we have filmed numerous videos with the exercises for Breathe Strong and Oximed for use in hundreds of hospital respiratory care units around the country dealing with recovering COVID patients. Tai Chi is part of the protocol in China for recovery from COVID and relieving some of the lingering symptoms.
Read more about the latest research and find links for a free introductory class offered by the Tai Chi Project
Oximed Breathing Exercise Videos for COPD
Click on this link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF7G73BXmwkvNdBOZHLYcOw/videos
Tai chi Qigong improves lung functions and activity tolerance in COPD
One randomized control trial at five general outpatient clinics in Hong Kong was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a Tai chi Qigong program in enhancing respiratory functions and activity tolerance in clients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A total of 206 COPD clients were randomly assigned into one of the three groups, namely, Tai Chi, exercise, and control group. Subjects in the Tai Chi group received a Tai Chi program consisting of two 60-min sessions each week for three months. Subjects in the exercise group were taught to practice breathing techniques combined with walking as an exercise. Subjects in the control group were instructed to maintain their usual activities. Data collection was performed on Lung functions, 6-min walk test, and COPD exacerbation rate.
Results showed improvements in the Tai Chi group. However, no changes were observed in the exercise group, while a decline in lung functions was noticed in the control group.
The researchers concluded that Tai chi Qigong was able to improve respiratory functions and activity tolerance levels in COPD clients. The breathing and walking exercises helped maintain lung functions and slow down disease progression.
Tai chi Qigong improves lung functions and activity tolerance in COPD clients: a single blind, randomized controlled trial
Randomized Controlled Trial Complement Ther Med. 2011 Feb;19(1):3-11.doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2010.12.007. Epub 2011 Jan 17.
Aileen W K Chan 1, Albert Lee, Lorna K P Suen, Wilson W S Tam
- PMID: 21296261
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2010.12.007
Give it a go, and see for yourself
| FREE Beginners Class In addition to our Tai Chi Tuesday videos, Joe Brady and Jacqui Shumway of The Tai Chi Project offer FREE Tai Chi Classes for Beginners via Zoom on Fridays at 10:00am Mountain Time. If you are interested in attending the free beginners class via Zoom please click the button below to register. Register for Free Class |
More Research on Tai Chi and COPD
- The sustaining effects of Tai chi Qigong on physiological health for COPD patients: a randomized controlled trial.Chan AW, Lee A, Lee DT, Suen LK, Tam WW, Chair SY, Griffiths P.Complement Ther Med. 2013 Dec;21(6):585-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2013.09.008. Epub 2013 Oct 8.PMID: 24280465 Clinical Trial.
- Effectiveness of a Tai chi Qigong program in promoting health-related quality of life and perceived social support in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease clients.Chan AW, Lee A, Suen LK, Tam WW.Qual Life Res. 2010 Jun;19(5):653-64. doi: 10.1007/s11136-010-9632-6. Epub 2010 Mar 15.PMID: 20229333 Clinical Trial.
- Evaluation of the sustaining effects of Tai Chi Qigong in the sixth month in promoting psychosocial health in COPD patients: a single-blind, randomized controlled trial.Chan AW, Lee A, Lee DT, Sit JW, Chair SY.ScientificWorldJournal. 2013 Oct 24;2013:425082. doi: 10.1155/2013/425082. eCollection 2013.PMID: 24282383 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
- Effectiveness of t’ai chi and qigong on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Ding M, Zhang W, Li K, Chen X.J Altern Complement Med. 2014 Feb;20(2):79-86. doi: 10.1089/acm.2013.0087. Epub 2013 Aug 20.PMID: 23961940 Free PMC article. Review.
- Effectiveness of meditative movement on COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Wu LL, Lin ZK, Weng HD, Qi QF, Lu J, Liu KX.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018 Apr 17;13:1239-1250. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S159042. eCollection 2018.PMID: 29713157 Free PMC article. Review.