PROVIDENCE – The Miriam Hospital is soliciting volunteers for a study of tai chi for patients who have had a heart attack and were unable to attend conventional cardiac rehabilitation.
The gentle rehab study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, uses the deep breathing and relaxation exercises of the Chinese martial art as an alternative exercise choice for patients who do not attend cardiac rehabilitation.
“Research has shown that even modest increases in fitness play a very important role in the prevention of future cardiac events,” said Dr. Elena Salmoirago-Blotcher, a research scientist at The Miriam Hospital Centers for Behavioral and Preventative Medicine who is leading the tai chi study.
Tai chi is a series of gentle movements with no or minimal stress on muscles and joints and a very low risk of injury.
