Tai Chi 'improves mood of heart failure patients'

Tai Chi could improve the quality of life in individuals with chronic heart failure, who may rely on home care, research has shown.

A study, carried out at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, revealed improvements in the mood of patients with the condition.

However, the exercise did not cause any significant physical differences in those who partook in Tai Chi to patients who did a six minute walk.

Gloria Yeh from the university explained: "Tai Chi is safe and has a good rate of adherence and may provide value in improving daily exercise, quality of life, self-efficacy and mood in frail, deconditioned patients with systolic heart failure."

This comes after findings published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry indicated that Tai Chi cuts depression among older people.

Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles said that introducing activities such as Tai Chi into the community could improve the outcomes of older adults with depression.

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