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June 18 (UPI) – Tai chi can reduce depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as improve sleep, in people with stroke, small study presented on Friday at the EuroHeartCare congress of the European Society of Cardiology found.
After eight weeks of tai chi, people recovering from stroke had fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress than at the start of the old discipline, the researchers said.
Participants also slept more soundly and spent less time awake at night.
“The practice of tai chi allows the individual to calm their mind by remaining in the present and putting aside unnecessary negative emotions, such as depression,” said Ruth Taylor-Piliae, co-author of the study, in a press release.
“Mind-body interventions are commonly used in adults to alleviate depressive symptoms,” said Taylor-Piliae, associate professor of nursing at the University of Arizona at Tuscon.
According to the American Heart Association, about a third of stroke survivors suffer from depression, and many also frequently report anxiety, stress, and poor sleep.
Tai chi is a martial arts discipline that focuses on releasing tension in the body, increasing awareness and efficiency of breathing, and promoting overall body relaxation and relaxation. mind.
The approach also incorporates aspects of mindfulness, a mental state in which the mind remains in the present moment.
For this study, researchers assessed the effectiveness of a tai chi diet in 11 stroke survivors who reported experiencing symptoms of depression.
The study participants had an average age of 70 and 55% were men, according to the researchers.
All participants attended tai chi classes three times a week for a total of eight weeks, with each class comprising a 10 minute warm-up period, 40 minutes of tai chi exercises, and a cool-down period of 10 minutes.
Participants gradually learned 24 basic Wu-style movements of tai chi, with an average of two new movements per week.
Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using questionnaires, and sleep was assessed overnight using a triaxial accelerometer, which detects body movement.
The researchers also took blood samples at the start of the study and at the end of the eight-week period to look for signs of oxidative stress and inflammation, both linked to post-stroke depression.
Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals, or oxygen-containing molecules, and antioxidants in the body, and it can contribute to the development of a number of chronic health problems, the researchers said.
After eight weeks of tai chi, participants showed signs of reduced oxidative stress in the blood, but no significant changes in any of the markers of inflammation.
“I was surprised and pleased with the improvements we saw in these self-reported symptoms and in sleep with just an eight-week intervention,” Taylor-Piliae said.
However, “more research is needed before we can make recommendations on tai chi for people with stroke. Our ultimate goal is to see whether tai chi reduces depressive symptoms in stroke survivors and also improves biochemical markers associated with depression, ”she said. .
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