News From the WORLD OF MEDICINE

HEALTH TIPS

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PARKINSON’S PATIENTS SHOULD HIT THE LINKS

Exercise is one of the most powerful treatments for people with Parkinson’s disease, but a lot of patients don’t do it. In an effort to identify an activity that’s beneficial and already popular, research presented at the American Academy of Neurology compared tai chi—which can help improve balance and prevent falls—to golf, a favorite sport of many people over 55. Within ten weeks, the Parkinson’s patients assigned to play golf saw their balance and walking ability improve. Just as importantly, 86 percent of golfers were “definitely” likely to continue with the activity after the study’s end, compared to 33 percent of the tai chi group.

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