TAI CHI IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
A recent study Stanford University's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, California, has revealed some remarkable benefits of tai chi practice that may one day help children with health issues. The hospital's Motion & Gait Analysis Laboratory, specializing in assisting children with movement disorders and cerebral palsy, is where the study was conducted.
Steve Gladfelter/VAS
Director Jessica Rose, PhD, an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery, and her students were amazed to witness Master Chen striking the target with a force measured at 14 times his body weight. Dr. Rose commented that, "Although many people don't realize it, every one of those slow moves you see in the park can be transformed into really fast strikes." She explained that Master Chen's tai chi skills may help members of the study by adding to "our understanding of motor deficits, robotics, and rehabilitation-device design for children for whom just walking across the floor is a struggle."
Steve Gladfelter/VAS
The researchers also worked with tai chi master, Shu Dong Li, who is able to raise or lower his skin temperature at will. It is believed that researching such meditation based abilities may one day help children with asthma calm their minds and improve pulmonary function.
For the complete story go to the Stanford News website at:
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2008/may7/med-taichi-050708.html
#TaiChi #Taijiquan
