Both Tai Chi and combined resistance-stretching exercises are effective non-pharmacological interventions for improving core motor symptoms, physical function and quality of life in patients with early to mid-stage Parkinson's disease, with Tai Chi particularly benefiting muscular endurance, motor control and balance ability.
Key Findings
Results
Both exercise groups showed statistically significant and potentially clinically meaningful improvements in total UPDRS-III scores after 14 weeks of intervention.
The study used a three-armed randomized controlled trial design comparing Tai Chi, combined resistance-stretching exercise, and a control group.
Participants had Parkinson's disease at Hoehn and Yahr stages 2-3 (early to mid-stage disease).
The intervention duration was 14 weeks.
UPDRS-III (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III) was the primary measure of motor symptoms.
Different dimension scores within UPDRS-III showed varying degrees of change across the two exercise groups.
Results
Tai Chi was particularly effective in enhancing muscular endurance, motor control, and balance, contributing to improved overall quality of life.
Muscle fitness was evaluated using the functional reach, 30-second arm curl, 30-second chair stand, and grip strength tests.
Quality of life was measured using the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39).
Tai Chi showed advantages over combined resistance-stretching specifically in muscular endurance, motor control, and balance domains.
Improvements in these domains corresponded with improved overall QOL in the Tai Chi group.
Results
The combined resistance-stretching group showed more significant improvements in muscular strength and functional fitness compared to the Tai Chi group.
Combined resistance-stretching exercise produced more significant improvements in muscular strength.
Functional fitness outcomes also favored the combined resistance-stretching group.
Despite differing in specific domains, the combined resistance-stretching group also demonstrated improved quality of life.
Functional fitness was assessed using multiple tests including functional reach, 30-second arm curl, 30-second chair stand, and grip strength.
Results
No significant differences in Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOGQ) scores were observed between the two exercise groups.
The Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOGQ) was used to assess freezing of gait symptoms.
Neither Tai Chi nor combined resistance-stretching demonstrated a statistically significant advantage over the other for this specific symptom domain.
This finding suggests both interventions may have comparable limited effects on freezing of gait specifically.
Methods
The study used a three-armed randomized controlled trial design to compare Tai Chi, combined resistance-stretching exercise, and a control condition in PD patients.
Participants were patients with Parkinson's disease at Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stages 2-3.
Assessments included UPDRS-III, FOGQ, Timed Up and Go, PDQ-39, functional reach, 30-second arm curl, 30-second chair stand, and grip strength tests.
Measurements were taken before and after the 14-week intervention.
The three-armed design allowed direct comparison between two active exercise modalities and a control group simultaneously.
What This Means
This research suggests that both Tai Chi and a combination of resistance and stretching exercises can meaningfully help people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease manage their motor symptoms over a 14-week period. Both types of exercise led to improvements in overall movement and motor control as measured by a standard Parkinson's disease rating scale, and both also improved participants' quality of life. The study is notable because it directly compared two different exercise approaches against each other and a control group, rather than just testing one exercise type in isolation.
The two exercise types appeared to offer somewhat different benefits. Tai Chi was particularly good at improving muscular endurance, motor control, and balance, while the combined resistance-stretching program produced stronger gains in muscular strength and general physical fitness. Neither approach was clearly better than the other at reducing freezing of gait — a common and disabling symptom where people with Parkinson's suddenly feel unable to move their feet.
This research suggests that exercise type can be tailored to a patient's specific needs and preferences: those who struggle more with balance and motor control might benefit especially from Tai Chi, while those prioritizing strength and physical fitness gains might do well with resistance-stretching programs. Both represent viable non-drug options to complement standard medical treatment for Parkinson's disease in its earlier and middle stages.
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Zhang W, Xie X, Zhong F, Lv W, Lai H, Huang C. (2026). Effects of Tai Chi on core motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease: A three-armed randomized controlled trial.. Behavioural brain research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116251