Conventional stroke rehab is performed at specialized facilities where physical therapists and physicians work together to improve the client's ability to move an affected body part. Typically, the therapists use different forms of exercise equipment in order to accomplish their goal. Though effective, this approach is expensive, and has many limitations.
A recent study led by researchers at the University of Illinois shows that Tai Chi, a Chinese form of martial arts that consists of a series of coordinated movements of the head, trunk and limbs, and which does not need any equipment, is an effective form of stroke rehabilitation. Although learning Tai Chi took the participants about 12 weeks, they later outperformed a control group in the ability to maintain body posture and balance.
It would be interesting to know whether specific series of Tai Chi exercises can be designed for specific types of stroke. Hopefully further research will continue to teach us how to efficiently channel the benefits of Tai Chi for the benefit of stroke survivors.
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