* Is Tai Chi the same as Vestibular rehabilitation? No. Tai Chi is an ancient form of exercise that uses slow and controlled whole body movements. Vestibular rehabilitation can include diagnostic equipment to pinpoint and quantify the problem. It can also include specific exercises aimed at eliminating the cause of dizziness or decreasing the symptoms. * How can Tai Chi help a patient who has dizziness? Tai Chi can generally help the patient with dizziness in two ways. 1) Tai Chi movements combine a variety of head and neck movements. These are similar to some of the traditional habituation activities that help to decrease the symptoms of dizziness. These movements are combined with whole body movements to simulate functional activities. 2) Tai Chi has also been shown to improve proprioception, strength and balance. This can assist the patient in their overall balance by increasing the effectiveness of other balance mechanisms not related to the vestibular system. * Should I do both Tai Chi and Vestibular rehabilitation with my patients? Yes. Studies indicate that when patients with vestibular disorders are treated with either vestibular rehabilitation or Tai Chi, both groups improved their gait function. Interestingly, they did this through different mechanisms, suggesting that using both interventions together would result in greater gains. * Is Tai Chi safe? Yes. There are no specific contraindications with Tai Chi. As with all exercise; care must be taken to work within the specific abilities of the patient. If a patient is experiencing too much dizziness with the activity, we are able to modify the exercise to meet their needs. * Why is Therapeutic Tai Chi different from traditional Tai Chi? Therapeutic Tai Chi movements have been specifically selected by a physical therapist for their value in a clinical setting. They are simplified for ease of teaching and learning. This works well with the relatively short duration of time available to clinicians during a traditional treatment session. Therapeutic Tai Chi also gives the clinical staff the ability to modify traditional Tai Chi movements to precisely fit the needs and goals of their clients. * How can I learn to use Therapeutic Tai Chi with my patients? Check out our products and seminars area. Here you will find a variety of tools to help the clinician implement Therapeutic Tai Chi into their treatment plan. You may also join our e-mail list to be among the first notified as new products and seminars are released. * I work for a large organization with multiple sites. How do I implement Therapeutic Tai Chi in all of our facilities? This can be done in a number of ways. 1) Contact us about having key staff at your facility certified to train the rest of your clinical practitioners. 2) Contact us to book a seminar. 3) Check out our clinical resource area. * How can I become a Certified Therapeutic Tai Chi Instructor? Contact us for information on becoming a Certified Therapeutic Tai Chi Instructor. * Is Tai Chi useful for conditions other than dizziness and vestibular disorder? Yes. Studies have shown Tai Chi to be effective in fall prevention, balance training, improved mobility and quality of life. It can help to improve co-ordination, agility and reaction time. Pain and stress levels can be reduced. It is associated with maintaining bone mineral density, cardiovascular health and pulmonary function. Many other effects of Tai Chi have also been documented. * How does Tai Chi help to prevent falls and improve balance? 1) The whole body movement patterns and rotational elements help to improve co-ordination. 2) By combining torso rotation with standing movements, Tai Chi utilizes good specificity of training. This reinforces balance through a variety of functional positions. 3) During Tai Chi, the upper extremities are quite literally a ‘lever arm’ that requires support from the core to effectively move through space. To remain upright and successful with the activity, the patient must continually change their balance and support strategy through the torso and lower extremities as the position of the arms change. 4) These gentle movements also help restore suppleness to the spine. Subtle spine movements are required to keep our upper body and lower body in good alignment during functional activities like gait. Without these reactions, balance can be impaired. 5 Finally, thoughtful performance of these skills can enhance motor learning and functional performance. Copyright © 2006 - CHW Rehab Inc. All rights reserved.