The Primary Care Network Occupational Therapy Team have been running Tai Chi / Qi Gong group sessions within the Biddulph and Leek localities, following 2 members of the team undertaking training.
This newsletter focuses on the outcomes obtained from the group undertaken in Leek.
With many thanks to Sainsbury’s (Leek), it has been possible to run these groups from the community room within the store. This is an ideal space to complete these sessions due to having appropriate level/ lift access, parking, toileting facilities and a light room with views of the local landscape.
The OT team identified that in being able to offer Tai Chi / Qi Gong we could support a wide variety of patients living with long-term conditions that are not easily treated by a medical model approach to treatment. These groups offer a holistic evidence-based activity that is able to be targeted to the individual needs of patients and offers longer-term support in line with health promotion. (Smith et al 2024)