In 2014, a study led by Qing-Hua Song and colleagues has highlighted the benefits of Tai Chi exercise for elderly patients suffering from anxiety disorders. The study, conducted with 32 elderly participants, aimed to evaluate the impact of Tai Chi on both physical and mental health when used alongside conventional drug therapy.

The participants were divided into two groups: a control group receiving only drug therapy and an experimental group that combined drug therapy with regular Tai Chi exercise. Both groups were evaluated at the start of the study and again after 45 days using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and the Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74).

Results revealed that the experimental group, which practiced Tai Chi in addition to taking medication, showed a significant improvement in both anxiety levels and overall quality of life compared to the control group. These findings suggest that Tai Chi offers a powerful complement to traditional treatment methods.

Moreover, the study monitored the patients for two months after they stopped drug therapy. The recurrence rate of anxiety symptoms in the control group was 42.86%, while it was only 9.09% in the experimental group that continued with Tai Chi.

The study concludes that incorporating Tai Chi into treatment plans for elderly patients with anxiety disorders not only enhances the initial therapeutic effects but also reduces the likelihood of symptom recurrence. This research underscores the importance of physical exercise, particularly Tai Chi, in the long-term management of anxiety disorders in the elderly.

Reference: Song, Q. H., Shen, G. Q., Xu, R. M., Zhang, Q. H., Ma, M., Guo, Y. H., & Han, Y. B. (2014). Effect of Tai Chi exercise on the physical and mental health of the elder patients suffered from anxiety disorder. International journal of physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology, 6(1), 55.