Balance and coordination improvement, altogether with the increase of muscular strength and resistance play an important role in osteoporosis rehabilitation, by preventing fracture causing falls.

I would like to share with you some information about one of the most used programs to improve balance and coordination.

TAI CHI CHUAN is part of the Chinese culture and civilization , an expression of the Chinese wisdom. Since centuries now, it has been a system of exercises meant to improve the balance and the harmony of the Yin and Yang energies.

Adopting Tai Chi positions, one becomes more concentrated, more connected allowing Qi (Chi), the energy of the Earth to run through the body, just like a tree is taking its energy and resources from the soil. The method is also known as “the thinker`s exercise” because all of the regions of the body are activated in a series of specific movements called “forms”. Its characteristics are the slowness and the fluidity of movements. It is executed with a perfect synchronization of the movements with extreme concentration and the respiration following the rhythm of the exercise.

All these elements have a calming, sedating, re-balancing effect on the central nervous system.

Tai Chi is a daily ritual in China, practiced in open air, if the weather permits, and preparing people for the routine tasks. Centuries of Tai Chi Chuan  practice proved its importance in maintaining good health and preventing diseases.

Nowadays, a wide study shows its efficiency in maintaining balance and movement coordination in elders, to whom preventing falls is of an extremely high importance.

A free of charge training of Tai Chi was organized by a group of specialists at the University Clinic III of the National Rehabilitation Institute. The participants were ladies diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Hopefully, this type of sport will become part of ASPOR support groups` activities.

Dr. Gilda Mologhianu, rehabilitation doctor, University of Medicine and Pharmacology “Carol Davila”, Bucharest

Dr. Mihaela Mihaescu, physiokinetotherapy student,  University of Medicine and Pharmacology “Carol Davila”, Bucharest