Tai Chi Offers Multiple Health Benefits in Post-Menopausal Women

Researchers from the University of Quebec at Montreal recently conducted a study looking at the health benefits of Tai Chi in post-menopausal women. Particularly they were looking at women who were experiencing loss of strength (dynapenia), using a control group of post-menopausal women who were not experiencing these issues.

The researchers recruited 62 post-menopausal women and gave them base line tests such as body composition, handgrip strength, functional capacities, cardiorespiratory functions - along with a quality of life survey. They were then offered 12 weeks of Tai Chi training.

After the 12 weeks of Tai Chi the researchers found significant decreases in body weight, fat mass and skeletal muscle mass and significant increases in hand grip strength, cardiorespiratory functions and improvements in perceptions of overall wellness. The group that was not experiencing strength loss at the beginning of the study (nondynapenic) still had improvements in weight loss and increased strength nonetheless. Both groups also reported lower blood pressure readings following the tai chi training (which has been shown in multiple studies previously).

The researchers concluded that Tai Chi offers the following benefits to post-menopausal women:

• improved body composition
• improved muscle strength
• improved cardiovascular and respiratory functions
• an overall feeling of general wellness