研究：打太極能緩解抑鬱

你會打太極拳嗎？有沒有發現打太極拳能愉悅身心？最新研究表明，打太極拳有緩解抑鬱的功效。在試驗中，參與太極拳練習的受試者抑鬱症狀都有明顯改善。

Taking part in Tai Chi could help to combat depression, new research claims.
最新研究表明，打太極拳能幫助對抗抑鬱。

Going to classes in the ancient Chinese martial art for 12 weeks significantly reduced symptoms of the blues.
參加這門古代中國武術（太極拳）的課程12周就能明顯減輕抑鬱症狀。

It can work independently of treatment, suggesting it can scupper the need for an antidepressant prescription, the small study shows.
一項小型研究顯示，太極拳練習可用於獨立治療，也就是說患者無需服用抗抑鬱藥物。

The findings hold promise amid soaring rates of depression worldwide, with drugs and therapy often proving ineffective.
從全世界範圍來看，抑鬱症的發病率不斷上升，藥物和各種治療經常證明無效，而這一研究發現給人們帶來了希望。

The meditative practice, which has been used for more than 1,000 years, combines deep breathing and slow and gentle movements.
太極拳能讓人在運動中冥想，已有超過1000年曆史，它將深呼吸和緩慢溫和的運動結合起來。

Researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital enrolled 50 Chinese-American participants for the study.
麻省綜合醫院的研究人員招募了50名美籍華人蔘與了這項研究。

All of the volunteers had mild to moderate depression and were not receiving any other forms of treatment at the time.
所有的志願者都有輕度到中度抑鬱，而且受試時未接受任何其他形式的抑鬱治療。

They were placed at random in three groups. The first took part in Tai Chi, a second received educational therapy and the third was a control group.
他們被隨機分爲三組。第一組參加太極拳練習，第二組接受教育治療，第三組是實驗對照組。

Those given Tai Chi were taught basic traditional movements and asked to practice three times a week.
太極拳練習組的成員學習了基本的太極拳動作，並按照要求每週練習三次。

All 17 volunteers in the martial art reported significantly greater improvement in depression symptoms than the other two groups.
與另外兩組相比，所有的17名太極拳組成員的抑鬱症狀都得到了顯著改善。

Follow up assessment after six months showed sustained improvement, the report published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry states.
研究報告稱，半年後的跟蹤評估顯示，受試者的抑鬱症狀得到持續改善。這份研究報告發表在《臨牀神經病學雜誌》上。

Lead author Professor Albert Yeung said if the findings are confirmed in other trials, it could be used as a primary treatment.
報告的主要作者艾伯特-楊教授說，如果這一發現在其他研究中得以證實，就可以用來進行對抑鬱症的初步治療。

While he said that the results of the study were important due to many adults of Chinese American ethnicity deciding not to seek help with depression.
他表示，這一研究成果非常重要，因爲很多美籍華人患了抑鬱症一般都選擇不尋求治療。

Professor Yeung added: 'Finding Tai Chi can be effective is particularly significant because it is culturally accepted by this group of patients who tend to avoid conventional psychiatric treatment.'
楊教授補充說：“太極拳對緩解抑鬱有效這一發現非常重要，因爲美籍華人中的抑鬱症人羣常常不想做傳統的精神病學治療，而太極拳對他們來說在文化角度來看是可以接受的。”

Previous research has shown Tai Chi makes the brain bigger and improves memory and thinking - possibly delaying the onset of dementia.
此前研究表明，練習太極拳可以使腦容量更大，改善記憶力和思維能力，因此有可能延緩癡呆症的發作。

The devastating neurological condition is associated with increasing shrinkage of the brain, as nerve cells and their connections are gradually lost.
這種毀滅性的神經症狀與腦容量日益縮小有關，神經細胞以及它們之間的連接逐漸喪失。

Tai Chi has also been linked with reducing high blood pressure and relieving symptoms of cancer, heart failure, osteoarthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
練習太極拳還可以降低血壓，緩解癌症、心力衰竭、骨關節炎和慢性阻塞性肺病的症狀。