To Helen and others interested in Tai Chi posting made possible because old issues of our newsletter are on disk Anne Rutherford TAI CHI - Parkinson Patients Take Charge Of Their Own Care From the Newfoundland Newsletter Vol 5 Num 1 March 1994 (Published by the Newfoundland chapters and support groups --the Parkinson Foundation of Canada) Originally appeared in the Toronto Star Contacts: Provincial Resource Centre voice (709) 754 4428 List Lurker <[log in to unmask]> In the basement of a North Toronto apartment building, more than a dozen people gather every Wednesday afternoon. Mostly seniors, they all suffer from Parkinson's - an illness characterized by stiff joints, poor balance and slow unsteady movement. Many of these people have difficulty doing up buttons, walking more than a few metres or rolling over in bed. Some of them spend most of their day in a wheelchair. And yet, dressed in sweat suits and running shoes they will practice the ancient Chinese exercise called Tai Chi for the next hour. Gently and gracefully, they will bend, stretch and turn in an impressive series of movements. They will stop, walk down to the end of the room, and repeat the sequence. By doing so, these people are part of an important change in the way we deal with medical problems. They are among a growing number of individuals who have begun to take an active role in their own health care, who are improving the quality of their lives through avenues which are distinct from - and yet in harmony with - the treatment they receive from their doctors. The potential benefits of such a approach are significant. We live in a society which often demands immediate results. From instant coffee to banking machines, we place a high value on speed and convenience. Unfortunately, our health care is no exception. When we go to our doctor we usually expect him or her to "give us something " to take care of the problem so that we can get on with our lives. Our technologically sophisticated medical system is, in many ways, a response to these attitudes. Doctors, too, want to believe in quick-fixes, in wonder drugs and specialized surgery. And while no one questions the importance of recent medical advances, other approaches - which are less high-tech and may work more slowly, but have the advantage of being cheaper and more empowering for the patient - are often overlooked. The Parkinson sufferers in this Wednesday class are quietly challenging this state of affairs. All take medication to help control their symptoms. And most were told by their doctor to keep physically active. However, it was through other channels, such as the Parkinson Foundation of Canada, that they discovered that Tai Chi is a particularly effective therapy. Long practised as an all-purpose fitness program, Tai Chi places special emphasis on keeping the spine and other joints supple. One study found that 85% of men aged 55 to 80 who practiced Tai Chi were able to touch the floor - while only 20% of a similar non-practicing group were. For the participants in this class, the benefits are sometimes hard to measure. Some feel that doing Tai Chi has definitely improved their balance. They say that using an escalator, for example, isn't as scary as it used to be. others say that while they can't be sure it's doing any good, they're certain it isn't causing them harm. Assunta Scaini, their 50-year old instructor, insists that she's seen a steady improvement in most of them. Scaini, who was diagnosed with Parkinsons eight years ago and has been practising Tai Chi for six, is unable to tolerate large amounts of the drugs which are used to treat this disease. She attributes the modest amount of medication she now takes to the fact that she devotes a few hours a day to Tai Chi. A growing body of medical opinion appears to agree. The improved circulation which results from practising Tai Chi, is seen as promoting drug absorption and minimizing toxic side effects. In addition, some doctors have begun to realize that many of the negative changes associated with Parkinsons are partly a result of decreased physical activity rather than the disease itself. Perhaps most significantly, though, there is a heightened awareness these days that patients should be encouraged to be active, rather than passive, participants in their own health care.