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This three-armed randomised controlled trial, published in Behavioural Brain Research, investigated how Tai Chi compares with combined resistance-stretching exercise and a control condition in people living with early to mid-stage Parkinson’s disease (Hoehn and Yahr stages 2–3). Both exercise groups participated in a 14-week programme, after which researchers assessed motor symptoms, physical function, and quality of life using several validated tools, including the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part III, the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire, the Timed Up and Go test, and the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39.
Both exercise groups showed statistically significant and potentially clinically meaningful improvements in overall motor symptom scores. Tai Chi was found to be particularly beneficial for muscular endurance, motor control, and balance, all of which contributed to improved quality of life. The combined resistance-stretching group demonstrated more pronounced gains in muscular strength and functional fitness, also leading to quality-of-life improvements. Neither group showed a significant difference in freezing of gait scores compared with the other.
The findings suggest that both modalities offer meaningful, non-pharmacological benefits for people with Parkinson’s disease, and that Tai Chi may be especially well suited to those seeking improvements in balance and motor control.
Conclusion: Tai Chi is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for early to mid-stage Parkinson’s disease, with particular strengths in improving muscular endurance, motor control, and balance.
Source: Zhang W, Xie X, Zhong F and colleagues. Behavioural brain research (2026). View on PubMed (PMID 42082156) · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116251
