The life-changing benefits of taiji

When Mr Alex Kwoi retired in September 2021, he was eager to find an activity that would keep him healthy alongside his weekly game of golf.

- Sumiko Tan

What he didn't expect was how taijiquan would change his life.

He used to wake up with ankle and knee pain and needed to stretch in bed before getting up.

"After six months of taiji, the pain slowly disappeared. I'm now able to jump out of bed to start the day," said Mr Kwoi, 64, a former facilities manager at the Defence Science and Technology Agency.

Taiji offers many health benefits, said Adjunct Professor Lau Tang Ching, a senior consultant in the division of rheumatology and allergy at National University Hospital's department of medicine.

The movements strengthen muscles and improve joint agility, which is why he often recommends taiji to patients with osteoarthritis, a condition where the cartilage in joints deteriorates.

Taiji's practice of shifting weight and moving in all directions has also been shown to be effective in improving balance, which is a key factor in preventing falls.

Most falls are due to a loss of balance from unaccustomed movements, such as when you suddenly step aside to avoid an obstacle, said Prof Lau, who is also vice-dean (education) at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS.

"If you are doing exercises that allow you to move sideways or backwards, then when you have to do a sudden movement, you may not fall so easily," he added.