Chinese researchers found tai chi works as well as cognitive behavioral therapy for treating chronic insomnia in older adults. The study followed 200 adults aged 50 and over with chronic insomnia for 15 months. Participants received either CBT sessions or tai chi classes twice weekly for three months. After three months, CBT showed better results with an 11-point drop on the Insomnia Severity Index compared to tai chi’s 7-point decline. However, after one year, the gap closed significantly. Tai chi participants improved by 9.5 points while CBT recipients dropped 10 points. “Our study supports tai chi as an alternative treatment approach for the long term management of chronic insomnia in middle aged and older adults,” the team concluded. Researchers noted tai chi’s accessibility makes it suitable even for inactive adults. (Story URL)
