The effects and benefits of Tai Chi, in particular maintaining balance control in geriatric subjects, have increasingly attracted the attention of scientific researchers.
In this article we will try to dissect the effects and the real beneficial potential of Tai Chi.
is capable of acquiring new motor patterns or modifying others.When you learn a new gesture, the mind breaks down the sequence of movements to be followed in an infinitesimal way and focuses on the details. Neuroscience has amply demonstrated how sensory information reaches the brain from all sense organs and works together to provide a "global and complex construct". In this sense, it can be very useful to observe someone who performs the gestures to be learned. This is thanks to the "mirror neurons", (mirror neurons identified by G. Rizzolati), cells that are activated by preparing the emulation of what the brain has interpreted with sight. The activity of the mirror neurons is repeated even during the same repetition activates gestures and, when everything is done correctly, the brain acquires the new pattern and memorizes it in about 6 hours.
The information that reaches the brain from the joints, tendons and muscles also contributes to strengthening the memory of gestures. The mechanism plays a key role in the functional strengthening of proprioceptors, nerve endings sensitive to stimuli coming from the joints, muscles, tendons and skin, thanks to which it is possible to obtain an internal sensation of the positions of the various parts of our body. They are flanked by the exteroceptors that provide the brain with information from the external environment coming from our senses (sight, touch, smell, hearing, sense of balance) and the interoreceptors sensitive to the signals coming inside the organism that provide information on tensions internal organs and the pain that can result from them.
This information reaches the central nervous system, where a response is processed, which is immediately sent back to the muscles, where it translates into the "execution of inexpensive and coordinated movements; suffering a trauma (for example a sprained ankle) can damage the anatomical structures that contain the proprioceptors, thus reducing the quality of the information that that district sends to the central nervous system.
The actual consolidation takes place if the gesture is repeated in the following days. Movement gains in fluidity and makes it possible to act with greater precision.
Not everyone perceives the world in the same way; some prefer sight, others hearing or touch. Reality is usually perceived by the predominant channel, which, in Western culture, is sight, followed by hearing.
Through greater proprioceptive acuity and precision of neuromuscular control, obtainable by practicing Tai Chi, it is possible to improve the so-called postural balance which, if not maintained, worsens over the years, becoming a contributing factor to falls in the elderly.
Thanks to this discipline, which requires to analyze every single movement with awareness, it is possible to intervene on the old motor patterns and acquire new ones; obviously, this requires a lot of training exercises.
Re-educate the body attitude, modify the posture vices that become accentuated with the passage of time and avoid repetitive wrong movements; this is the main motivation that pushes more and more people to practice Tai Chi.
unilateral to bilateral and circular movements of the trunk and extremities involving isometric and isotonic contractions. The mental control of body movements intensely and dynamically stimulates the ability to listen to the signals that reach the brain from our sensors.
The graceful and fluid movements of the limbs typical of this discipline have multiple amplitudes and directions, and are effectively complemented by weight shifts and torso rotations. The positions and movements of the parts of the body are controlled with a meticulousness and concentration that are not found in other disciplines. The awareness of our body and, in general, the interaction between organism and mind are particularly enhanced.
For these reasons, the proprioceptive exercise of Tai Chi - as well as that of yoga and gentle gymnastics - seems to have better effects on the control of balance in the elderly than bioenergetic physical activities (swimming, cycling and running).
nervous and muscular). Many define this ability as "quick reflexes" but, technically speaking, that of reflexes proper is a rather complex and articulated area to be summarized in such a simplistic way.
