Tai chi 'could boost elderly adults' sleep'
03/07/2008
Tai chi can help older adults get a good night's sleep, according to new research.
A study conducted at UCLA's School of Medicine and outlined in the journal Sleep suggests that regular participation in a westernised version of the Chinese martial art, tai chi chih, improves the quality of sleep elderly individuals get, reports Reuters.
During tests, nearly two-thirds of those who undertook tai chi chih classes noted an improvement in their slumber compared to one-third who were enrolled in health education classes which discussed how to get a better night's sleep.
However, for the participants who had been identified as poor sleepers before the trial began, only seven per cent showed a marked improvement in the quality of their sleep.
In related news, Jesse Cannon of the Healthy Back Institute recently noted that a new type of mattress could be the key to getting a better night's sleep.
The expert asserted that many people use the same mattress for years without questioning the support it gives them when they should be querying whether is comfortable and spacious enough for their needs.
