Tai Chi can help eliminate PTSD symptoms in war veterans - study

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be cured in veterans by practicing Tai Chi, new study reveals. PTSD is common among veterans. Around 23% of the veterans suffer from PTSD especially those involved in recent conflicts.

PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a mental health condition that can strike a person after witnessing or experiencing a shocking or frightening event.

US Department of Veterans Affairs reports that 30% of war veterans who attended Vietnam War have suffered, more or less, from PTSD.

Barbara Niles, a study co-author who is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine in Massachusetts, has said that Tai Chi maintains better mental health and decreases depression and anxiety.

Previously few studies have researched Tai Chi as an effective solution for PTSD. With this in mind, 17 veterans with PTSD were invited to volunteer for the study and were given a chance to involve in the first four weeks Tai Chi program, reports Medical News Today.

The Chinese term Tai Chi Chuan can be translated as the "Supreme Ultimate Force." Modern Tai Chi in the West today can be termed as a combination of yoga and meditation. The sequence of movements called "sets" is mostly taken from martial arts, writes Chebucto.  

The Tai Chi program set for the study had weekly sessions. Each session included breathing, relaxation, self-massage and revision of Tai Chi principles. The veterans were also asked to practice Tai Chi at home for 30 minutes every day.

At the end of the program, all the participants were given a questionnaire to fill with their honest opinion, feelings, and satisfaction.

The vast majority of them (93.8%) showed their satisfaction and rated the program as "excellent." Almost 69% of them said that the program helped them deal with their problems more efficiently. All of the participants stated that they would participate in Tai Chi program again.

The team involved in the study said that the study was a great success as it revealed the feasibility and practicality of involving veterans with PTSD in a Tai Chi program.

They also added that veterans have shown their satisfaction with Tai Chi and are eager to participate in more sessions. These positive findings require more studies to evaluate empirically that Tai Chi is an effective treatment for PTSD.

Tai Chi is famous for fostering tranquil and calm mind. The exercises can be exploited to treat patients with PTSD effectively if done properly and regularly.