Tai chi - the martial art of a good night's sleep
30 October 2009
Elderly people who have trouble sleeping should perhaps turn to martial arts for help. Findings of new US research revealed that people who practiced Tai Chi Chih, a Westernised version of a 2000-year-old Chinese martial art, had improved sleep quality after previously experiencing moderate sleep complaints (Sleep, online first).
Researchers randomised 112 otherwise healthy adults, aged 59 to 86 years, to receive either training in performing 20 basic Tai Chi Chih moves or to participation in sleep educated classes, with advice on stress management, diet and sleep habits.
After 25 weeks, they found those in the martial arts group, when compared with the clinical education group, had improved sleep and remission of impairments such as daytime drowsiness and impaired concentration.
The authors said the findings were important given the prevalence of sleep disorders among this age group, with US data indicating more than half of older adults (59 years or older) had some level of sleep impairment.
In the vast majority of these people, the disorder was untreated, they said, or was treated with sedatives, which led to potentially serious side-effects such as daytime confusion and falls.
Last Reviewed: 30 October 2009
