Health Benefits of Tai Chi Exercise: A Guide for Nurses


Author: Sally M Miller1, Cindy Hui-Lio2, Ruth E Taylor-Piliae3

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, 461 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37240, USA. Electronic address: sally.m.miller@vanderbilt.edu.

<sup>2</sup> Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 3401 West End Avenue, Suite 380, Nashville, TN 37203, USA; Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.

<sup>3</sup> University of Arizona College of Nursing, Room 329, PO Box 210203, Tucson, AZ 85721-0203, USA.
Conference/Journal: Nurs Clin North Am
Date published: 2020 Dec 1
Other:
 Volume ID: 55   ,  Issue ID: 4   ,  Pages: 581-600   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.cnur.2020.07.002.   ,  Word Count: 107  
    Tai chi is an ancient Chinese internal martial art that has increased in popularity across the United States over the past 2 decades. Tai chi combines gentle physical movement, mental imagery, and natural, relaxed breathing. There is increasing scientific evidence showing the impact of tai chi exercise on multifaceted areas of health and well-being, including positive effects on cognition, depression, anxiety, sleep, cardiovascular health, and fall prevention. A review of the health benefits of tai chi exercise is presented, as well as recommendations for nurses seeking to answer patient questions about tai chi.



Keywords: Cognition; Depression; Fall prevention; Heart failure; Sleep; Stroke; Tai chi.



PMID: 33131634 DOI: 10.1016/j.cnur.2020.07.002