Tai Chi Found as Effective as Therapy for Long-Term Insomnia Relief: Study
New York, NY – for middle-aged and older adults struggling with chronic sleeplessness, tai chi may be just as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for long-term relief, according to a new study published Wednesday in The BMJ. The research offers a promising option treatment option for the millions grappling with persistent sleep issues.
The study, involving 200 Chinese adults over the age of 50, compared the effects of one-hour tai chi sessions twice a week to CBT sessions of the same frequency. while CBT initially demonstrated a greater reduction in insomnia symptoms, measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), both groups exhibited similar improvements after more than a year. This finding builds upon previous research highlighting the benefits of tai chi for sleep in older adults, including a prior study that showed the practice boosted sleep by over 50 minutes.
Researchers assessed sleep symptoms – including difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, waking too early, and the impact on daily life – using the ISI. The latest trial also revealed that both tai chi and CBT participants experienced improvements in mental health, physical activity levels, and overall quality of life. The study’s authors observed that participants continued practicing tai chi even after the trial’s conclusion, suggesting the benefits may be linked to sustained engagement.
“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 authors concluded. While CBT and talk therapy remain the first-line treatments, the research underscores the potential of alternative approaches to managing sleep disturbances.