Tai chi for better sleep

Works almost as well as psychotherapy.

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Hi, it's Karoline in Singapore. If your New Year's resolutions include getting more sleep, a new study shows that one practice could be almost as effective as psychotherapy to ease insomnia. But before I explain more ... Today's must-reads Cancer Capitalism: How the system wrecks patients' finances. Singapore study links heavy infant screen time to teenage anxiety. Opinion: The consequences of health-care chaos in the US. Soothing moves Those groups practicing tai chi in the park may be doing more than stretching and socializing — they could be treating insomnia. The slow-moving traditional Chinese martial art — long linked to better balance, strength and flexibility — may also improve sleep, according to new research from the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, or HKUMed, at the University of Hong Kong. The study suggests tai chi can deliver long-term benefits for chronic insomnia comparable to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, or CBT-I, the clinical gold standard. Researchers followed more than 200 adults aged 50 and older with chronic insomnia, randomly assigning them to either tai chi or CBT-I treatment. Both groups attended hour-long sessions twice a week. After three months, CBT-I worked faster: Insomnia Severity Index scores fell by 11.2 points for that group, compared with a 6.7-point drop among tai chi participants. But the gap narrowed over time. By 15 months, the tai chi group had nearly caught up, with a 9.5-point reduction versus 10.2 points for CBT-I. The findings suggest that while tai chi may take longer to improve sleep, its long-term benefits in treating insomnia are promising — especially in communities where accessibility to therapy is limited by high costs and a shortage of trained therapists. Practicing the martial art requires no equipment, no prescriptions and little more than open space. The impact could be widespread, as sleep problems are common. Research published in August in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews found that more than 16% of adults worldwide suffer from insomnia. "Our research provides strong evidence that tai chi can serve as a practical alternative — providing a lifestyle-based intervention that improves sleep while promoting overall physical and mental well-being," says Parco Siu Ming Fai, an author of the study and head of the kinesiology division at the School of Public Health at HKUMed.  "Instead of relying solely on clinical referrals, patients can integrate lifestyle-based interventions into insomnia care, empowering individuals to take control of their health," he says. — Karoline Kan What we're reading Sleep drink supplements are booming. The Wall Street Journal looks at the science. Want to improve your health in 2026? Keep things simple, the AP advises. For those looking for nutrition guidance, the New York Times has 10 tips. Contact Prognosis Health questions? Have a tip that we should investigate? Contact us at AskPrognosis@bloomberg.net. Follow us You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Prognosis newsletter. If a friend forwarded you this message, sign up here to get it in your inbox. Unsubscribe Bloomberg.com Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022 |