Starfarm Tai Chi Classes in CT

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Therapeutic Tai Chi Fall Prevention Program DVD

Order your copy and begin practicing right away.  Therapeutic Tai Chi Fall Prevention Program DVD produced by the researchers: original intent preserved. Video is only $5.99, no artistic DVD cover or disc art, no slim case, no other bells and whistles.

S&H $2.99 USPS with delivery confirmation.

Regular Practice with Therapeutic Tai Chi Fall Prevention Program DVD can lead to better Balance :

Better movement excursion and control, and consistent, steady walking patterns:

•     improved postural stability
•     improved control of body positioning
•     improved gait initiation
•     improved movement symmetry and coordination
•     improved lower extremity strength

Therapeutic Tai Chi Fall Prevention Program DVD

The guidelines were compiled by a panel comprising members from the previous panels and new members with substantial knowledge, experience, and publications in fall prevention and care of older patients, and are based on a systematic review of the randomized controlled trials of fall prevention interventions.  The literature search included meta-analyses, systematic literature reviews, randomized controlled trials, controlled before-and-after studies, and cohort studies published between May 2001 and April 2008.  The panel also reviewed the RCTs published between April 2008 and July 2009 and concluded that the additional evidence did not change the ranking of the evidence or the guideline recommendations.

“Falls are one of the most common health problems experienced by older adults and are a common cause of losing functional independence,” said Dr. Mary Tinetti of Yale University School of Medicine, and one of the panel chairs. “Given their frequency and consequences, falls are as serious a health problem for older persons as heart attacks and strokes.”

The guidelines now state that doctors and other health professionals should determine whether their older patients are at risk of falling by asking if they have fallen recently or if they are unsteady walking. If so, health providers should look for the presence of known problems such as muscle weakness, poor balance or blood pressure that drops too much on standing. If they have these problems, then older adults should receive the interventions described in the guidelines, but if there is no evidence of gait problems or recurrent falls, they do not require a risk assessment.

The new recommendations for interventions focus on:

• Multifactorial interventions which include exercise for balance, gait and strength training, such as Tai Chi or physical therapy

• Environmental adaptation to reduce fall risk factors in the home and in daily activities

• Cataract surgery where needed, but they recommend against vision intervention as an individual approach

• Medication reduction, regardless of the number of medications prescribed (in 2001 this was only recommended for those on at least four) with particular attention to medications that affect the brain such as sleeping medications and antidepressants

• Focus on raising low blood pressure and managing heart rate and rhythm abnormalities

“We found that the most effective trials for preventing falls in older people looked at multiple interventions rather than just one; previous studies have indicated that it is more effective to focus on one intervention, but because we looked at not only what recommendations were given, but also which carried out, we’re confident that multifactorial interventions is the best course of action,” said Tinetti.

“There is emerging evidence that the rate of serious fall injuries, such as hip fractures, is decreasing modestly in areas in which fall prevention is integrated into clinical practice.  By making fall prevention part of the clinical care of older adults this trend can continue.”

__________________________________________________________________

A summary of the updated AGS/BGS Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention of Falls in the Older Persons is published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact healthnews@wiley.com

Full citation: Summary of the Updated AGS/BGS Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention of Falls in Older Persons Developed by the Panel on Prevention of Falls in Older Persons, American Geriatrics Society and British Geriatrics Society. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2010; DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03234.x

URL upon publication: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03234.x

These are the shoes I wear during classes. I am now into the fourth pair of these since I discovered them, I like them for tai chi practice because there is no artificial support…I am on my feet with a thin covering of rubber sole under them.  Scroll down for women’s and men’s size chart…find and order the european equivalent of your shoe size.

Amazon Men’s Shoe Sizing Chart

US Euro UK Inches CM 6 39 5.5 9.25″ 23.5 6.5 39 6 9.5″ 24.1 7 40 6.5 9.625″ 24.4 7.5 40-41 7 9.75″ 24.8 8 41 7.5 9.9375″ 25.4 8.5 41-42 8 10.125″ 25.7 9 42 8.5 10.25″ 26 9.5 42-43 9 10.4375″ 26.7 10 43 9.5 10.5625″ 27 10.5 43-44 10 10.75″ 27.3 11 44 10.5 10.9375″ 27.9 11.5 44-45 11 11.125″ 28.3 12 45 11.5 11.25″ 28.6 13 46 12.5 11.5625″ 29.4 14 47 13.5 11.875″ 30.2 15 48 14.5 12.1875″ 31 16 49 15.5 12.5″ 31.8 17 50 16 13 33 18 51 16.5 13.25 33.7 19 52 17 14 34.6 20 53 17.5 14.25 35.6 Amazon Men’s Width Chart X-Narrow Narrow Medium Wide X-Wide 4A, 3A, 2A, A B(N), C D(M) E, 2E 3E, 4E, 5E, 6E *Standard narrow is B(N) because B and N are the most common narrow width designations;C is the width in between narrow and medium; Standard medium is D(M) because D and M are the most common medium width designations

]]> http://www.starfarmtaiji.com/2010/09/tai-chi-shoes/feed/ 0 http://www.starfarmtaiji.com/2009/11/laddie-trains-for-intermediate-level-chinese-yoga/ http://www.starfarmtaiji.com/2009/11/laddie-trains-for-intermediate-level-chinese-yoga/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:36:41 +0000 admin http://www.starfarmtaiji.com/?p=394 OCT 16 2009 Albany New York

With nearly 100 people from around the country in attendence, Jiang, Jian-ye (Grandmaster) introduced The intermediate level of Chinese Yoga with Healing Qi, during a Saturday Workshop held at his Albany, New York studio.  Starfarm’s Laddie Sacharko was in attendence, shown in photo.

Laddie Sacharko Attends HPA training for instructors, Chinese Yoga Intermediate level. Laddie is 3rd from right, second row.

An Intermediate Level class is planned for January 2010 at Thompson, where about 20 people have been practicing the beginner’s level.  Watch for details! Check Here

November 7th, 2009

Due to overwhelming registrations, two new classes have been schedule to accommodate the demand for Tai Chi classes at the Mansfield senior center:

Wednesday mornings, immediately following the 9:15-10:15 AM, class, another one hour session is added, and will begin the week following the Veteran’s Day closing of the center.
Beginning Wednesday,Nov 18th, 10:15-11:15 Tai Chi for Seniors.

Beginning in December, a new Tai Chi for Seniors session commences on Thursday mornings, 9:00-10:00.

You must register in advance, these classes filled fast, and class size is limited to 14 people. Persons under 55 may register, priority will be given to persons 55 and older. Call the Senior Center at 860 423-0262.

Scientists are examining, in a single-blind, randomized controlled trial, whether Tai Chi can improve postural balance and lower-extremity muscle strength, and reduce frequency of falls among early to moderately advanced Parkinson’s disease patients.
Principal Investigator: Fuzhong Li
Co-Investigator: Peter Harmer
Project Period: 12/19/07 – 11/30/11
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

A search of the NIH website for articles,  studies, and or references to Tai Chi and Parkinson’s yielded 336 results.  This short list of article links shows why tai chi has a promise of relief for person’s with the disease symptoms.

My own limited experience with tai chi and parkinson’s is that those who gave an earnest effort gained almost immediate relief from tremor. (two one-time interventions with Parkinson’s support groups, and one long term patient practice).  Additionally I most note that one wife learned “wei qigong” technique from me, and was gratified to be able to relieve her husband’s tremor for brief periods daily, for several years.

Study of Tai Chi Exercise and Balance in Persons With Parkinson’s …

Effect of Exercise on Gait and Balance in Peripheral Neuropathy …

Chinese Exercise Modalities in Parkinson’s Disease – Full Text …

NCCAM-Funded Research for FY 2007

Living with Parkinson’s: A Jekyll and Hyde Existence: National …

NIHSeniorHealth: Parkinson’s Disease – Treatment and Research … … Other complementary therapies include massage therapy, yoga, tai chi, hypnosis,
acupuncture, and … these therapies, but they do not slow Parkinson’s disease and …
nihseniorhealth.gov/parkinsonsdisease/surgicaltreatmentsandothertherapies/10.html – 14k – 09-22-2008 – Cached

Wu G, Zhao F, Zhou X, Wei L.

Improvement of isokinetic knee extensor strength and reduction of postural sway in the elderly from long-term Tai Chi exercise.

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2002;83:1364-9.

Objectives: To compare isokinetic strength of leg muscles and foot center of pressure (COP) as a measure of sway between long-term Tai Chi practitioners and controls.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Community setting. Participants: Twenty subjects in the Tai Chi group and 19 subjects in the control group (age, >55y).

Intervention: Subjects in Tai Chi group had practiced Tai Chi for a minimum of 3 years.

Main Outcome Measures: Concentric and eccentric strength of knee extensors and flexors at 60°/s and 120°/s, and foot COP displacement during quiet stance with eyes open or closed.

Results: People in the Tai Chi group had significantly higher knee extensor strength at all speeds tested (P<.013), and smaller foot COP excursions for both eyes open and eyes closed conditions (P<.05) than people in control group. No significant difference existed in knee flexors between the 2 groups (P<.713). The COP excursions correlated significantly with the eccentric strength of knee extensors (P<.07) but not with the concentric strength of knee extensors (P<.14) or with the isokinetic strength of knee flexors at most of the speeds (P<.27).

Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that the maintenance of eccentric strength of postural muscles in the lower extremities, which is beneficial for maintaining good postural stability, is helped through the long-term practice of Tai Chi.

© 2002 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

via Elsevier: Article Locator.