Tai Chi for Arthritis - Show Me Health

Originating in ancient China, tai chi is one of the most effective exercises for health of mind and body. Although an art with great depth of knowledge and skill, it can be easy to learn and soon delivers its health benefits.  For many, it continues as a lifetime journey.

In 1997, Dr. Paul Lam led a team of tai chi and medical specialists to create the Tai Chi for Arthritis program. It is easy, enjoyable and safe for people with arthritis to learn. Medical studies have shown the program to relieve pain for people with arthritis and improve their quality of lives, as well as preventing falls for the older adults.  For this reason, arthritis foundations around the world and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in America are giving it their full support.

Although especially effective for arthritis, it is a great start for beginner to improve health and wellness. The program is proven to be effective to prevent falls, that is why health departments around the world have utilized it for this purpose. 

Tai chi is a slow motion, low-impact exercise that promotes physical and mental health and relaxation. It is practiced as an effective exercise for health through a series of flowing, graceful, gentle postures and movements. The gentle flowing movements contain inner power that can strengthen the body, improve mental relaxation and mobilize joints and muscles. Tai chi is an especially suitable therapy for arthritis because of the slow and gentle movements. Here are some of the benefits, according to Nina Chen, Ph.D., CFLE, Human Development Specialist, University of Missouri Extension.

Tai chi improves balance, strength and flexibility and lowers the risk of falls. A study from the Oregon Research Institute found that tai chi improved balance and reduced the frequency of falls and risks of falling among older people.

Tai chi also reduces pain, stiffness and stress. Researchers from Tufts University School of Medicine noted that patients older than 65 with knee osteoarthritis who practiced a 60-minute tai chi class twice a week for 12 weeks showed a significant decrease in joint pain and stiffness compared with those in the control group. They also found the patients in the tai chi group had improved physical function, self-efficacy, depression, and health status. Both the Oregon and University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers reported that tai chi improves sleep quality in older adults.

Other UCLA studies also suggested that tai chi helps people reduce high blood pressure and tension headaches.

Tai Chi for Arthritis isn’t for everyone.  If you are looking for a drop-in class you can attend when you have time, this is probably not the course you are looking for.  Learning the movements of Tai Chi is a progressive effort.  It takes time and repetition to learn the series of moves, so class attendees need to be present for as many classes as possible. 

Learning Tai Chi can also be slow-paced for some. Health Center Instructors have been trained in the Step-Wise Method created by Dr. Paul Lam, so each move is taught in steps.  The method intended to ensure safety for those with balance issues. 

The Health Center will be starting a new Tai Chi for Arthritis Class in May.  We will host an exhibition on Friday, May 4th at 10 a.m. for those that would like to learn more about Tai Chi, and see it in practice.  Classes will begin on Monday, May 7th at 10 a.m.  Classes are  set for Mondays and Thursdays through July 19th.   There is a $20 cost to attend this ten week series of classes, but participants who attend at least 50% of classes will get their money back.  Registration for the class will remain open for two weeks from the first class for those who missed getting signed up. 
 

Call 646-5506 for more information.

Sources: Tai Chi for Health Institute, University of Missouri Extension

Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention Class

Livingston County Health Center would like to announce a new Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention class for seniors 60 and older, or those living with arthritis, fibromyalgia and other conditions that cause balance issues and joint pain. 

There will be a free demonstration class led by Instructors Mary Taylor and Ann Burchett on Friday, May 4th at 10 a.m. in the Health Center classroom, located at 800 Adam Drive.

Tai Chi for Arthritis is a low impact, graceful form of exercise using gentle movements that puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it suitable for adults that are age 60 and over. Tai Chi is proven to help reduce the prevalence of falls among and is rated as the highest level evidence-based program for senior adults for health and wellness.

Tai Chi has been proven to improve balance, increase leg strength, improve mobility, increase flexibility, reduce stress, improve posture and reduce the fear of falling.

Weekly one-hour Tai Chi classes begin at the Health Center on May 7th and will be held Mondays and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. through July 19th. There is a $20 cost to attend this ten week series of classes, but participants who attend at least 50% of classes will get their money back. Registration for the class will remain open for two weeks from the first class for those who missed getting signed up. 

For more information about the upcoming classes or to register, please call 660-646-5506

Smart Connections® Class Series Coming

Livingston County Health Center would like to announce a Smart Connections® class series coming every Friday in June to the Livingston County Library Children’s Department.

Smart Connections® is a free program from Trauma Smart® for caregivers to connect, network and enhance skills in a relaxed and engaging atmosphere. Anyone who deals with kids can add tools to address challenging behaviors as well as to increase connection with your child.

Mary Taylor, RN and Maternal Child Health Coordinator at the Health Center will be the instructor. Classes will be held every Friday in June from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Children’s Department at the Livingston County Library.   Classes include: “Managing the Ups & Downs”; “Reading the Signs”; “Creating Comfort”; “Encouraging Growth”; and “Feelings Detective.”

Smart Connections® complements the Trauma Smart program implemented in Chillicothe R-II grades Kindergarten through 5^th grade.  The project was funded by the Livingston County Health Center, Chillicothe R-II School District and special funding from the Crittendon Foundation.

There is no charge to attend classes.  Parents and Caregivers who are interested in attending should call the Health Center at 646-5506 to register, or visit our website: www.livcohealthcenter.com to access the online application.  Registration cards are available in the Children’s Department at the Library as well.

For more information about the program, contact Mary Taylor, RN at 646-5506.

Registration is underway for the Spring Walking Challenge

Registration is underway for the Livingston County Health Center’s Spring Walking Challenge to be held April 22nd through June 16th . The challenge is a continuation of Health Center’s “Walk Chillicothe” Project.

Those interested can sign up now through Monday, April 23rd to participate in the challenge.  Late registrations will be accepted, but the Health Center would like to get as many on the books by starting day as possible. Register by visiting www.livcohealthcenter.com or call 646-5506.

The requirements are simple: pledge to walk 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks.  Record walking on an exercise log and turn it in after the 8 weeks to be eligible for the prize drawing.  Forms are available at the Health Center, or can be printed off the website.  Even if you fall short of your goal, all entries submitted will be put in the drawing.

The walking challenge is an attempt to get people motivated to start a walking habit that will be established after the eight-week period.  

Local worksites are also being targeted in the challenge to encourage employers to promote a healthy lifestyle to their workers.

If you would like to sign up for the challenge, call 646-5506 or visit www.livcohealthcenter.com.  You can also stop by the Health Center office at 800 Adam Drive to register and pick up an exercise log while you’re there.

Show Me - "Changing Our Future Together"

April 2-8 designates National Public Health Week.  This year’s theme is “Changing Our Future Together,” which reflects the mission of public health in general. 

People often ask, “What is public health?”  Unless they have a need to access our services, many people have no idea what we do!   Here’s an attempt at explaining it:

Everyone deserves to live a long and healthy life in a safe environment. To make this happen, we must tackle the causes of poor health and disease risk among individuals and within our communities. Where we live, work, worship and play impacts each of use and can determine our health and how long we live.

When we think about the word “health,” we typically associate it with medical matters, so the definition of public health can seem a little confusing. Unlike the practice of medicine in clinical settings—like a doctor’s office or hospital—public health is not a one-on-one discipline, nor do those in the field practice medicine.

Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play.

While a doctor treats people who are sick, those of us working in public health try to prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place. We also promote wellness by encouraging healthy behaviors, such as our Adult Blood Draw clinics that offer affordable preventive care.

Public health focuses on improving and protecting community health and well-being, with an emphasis on prevention among large groups of people. Public health workers keep communities healthy through child wellness, disease prevention, education, disaster relief, clean water, access to healthcare, and much more.

Public health works to track disease outbreaks, prevent injuries and shed light on why some of us are more likely to suffer from poor health than others. The many facets of public health include speaking out for laws that promote smoke-free indoor air and seatbelts, spreading the word about ways to stay healthy and giving science-based solutions to problems.

Overall, public health is concerned with protecting the health of entire populations. These populations can be as small as a local neighborhood, or as big as an entire country or region of the world.  Livingston County is our population, and we are proud to have served the county for over 40 years. 

Public health saves money, improves our quality of life, helps children thrive and reduces human suffering.

Why is public health important?

Most of us rarely think about these roles until a crisis, such as a devastating hurricane, captures our attention. But public health officials work on a daily basis to keep people healthy and safe, locally and around the world, by preventing disease and injury.

Public health initiatives such as vaccinations, family planning, motor vehicle safety laws, and clean air and water policies have increased life expectancy in the U.S. by nearly 30 years.

Public health connects us all.

Source: National Public Health Week, APHA