Tai Chi May Improve Life With Heart Failure

Tai chi may improve well-being for people with heart failure, new research suggests. The study included 100 people. They were randomly assigned to one of two programs. One group took classes in tai chi. This ancient Chinese exercise form combines flowing movements and weight-shifting. The other group took classes to learn more about heart failure. Both programs lasted 12 weeks. At the end, people who did tai chi reported more improvements in quality of life than the other group. They also showed a bigger boost in mood and burned more calories each week. But people in both groups could walk about the same distance in 6 minutes. They also had similar use of oxygen during exercise. The journal Archives of Internal Medicine published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it April 25.