Regular Tai Chi exercise is beneficial for relieving long-term fatigue

What is it about?

This is a clinical study from the Rehabilitation Department of Dongzhimen Hospital affiliated with the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in China. The study shows that one month of practicing Tai Chi can improve the quality of life and sleep quality of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy individuals, as well as further improve the fatigue sensation of patients. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and machine learning algorithms, researchers of the study found a specific pattern of brain functional connectivity that can easily identify patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy individuals. After receiving Tai Chi exercise, this special functional connectivity pattern of patients was significantly enhanced, and the enhanced areas of connectivity were mainly concentrated in the default mode network and the left frontoparietal network.

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Photo by Jade Lee on Unsplash

Photo by Jade Lee on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a illness characterized by long-term feelings of fatigue. According to reports, patients who recover from COVID-19 infection may experience persistent fatigue, gradually developing into chronic fatigue syndrome. As there is no effective drug therapy for this condition, symptomatic supportive treatment is usually recommended. Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese exercise that consists of regulating breathing through coordinated movements, dynamic meditation with emptying the mind, and slow continuous body movements. It can effectively improve the cardiovascular and cognitive functions of middle-aged and elderly people and enhance their overall health. This study provides evidence supporting the clinical application of Tai Chi exercise in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and enhances our understanding of its mechanism of action.

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