Whiten’s diagnosis came two years ago, long after his own realization that something was amiss. By then, he said, the constant pain and lack of balance left him staggering.

Yet to see Whiten perform the graceful and meditative motions of Tai Chi, it is difficult to detect his impairment. In unison with some dozen fellow sufferers, his body bends and his arms sweep to the rhythm of slow breathing.

For a time, Whiten’s movements are steady and his balance firm. He finally feels some relief.

Associate Professor Li Li, an expert in the biomechanics of locomotion in the department of kinesiology, oversees this unique therapeutic application of Tai Chi for patients with neuropathic disease. His five-year study, supported in part by the Baton Rouge based Reilly Family Foundation, provides evidence that the novel approach is effective.

Associate Professor Li Li, an expert in the biomechanics of locomotion in the department of kinesiology. Photo credit: Jason Peak

“Tai Chi can improve balance, improve gait, reduce pain and recover sensation. All this adds up to an improvement in quality of life,” said Li.

In a paper submitted to the 2008 annual meeting of the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology, Li and graduate student Brad Manor report that in six-week trials, patients gained significantly in standardized tests of endurance, strength, speed of movement and stability when standing, compared to a control group.

Li sees the value of therapeutic approaches to neuropathic disorders as expanding in years to come.

“The aging population is exploding. With the advance of medicine, people live longer but not necessarily better,” cautioned Li, whose faculty service includes membership in the LSU Life Course and Aging Center. Many will face chronic and debilitating diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Peripheral Neuropathy, for which there are few or no effective treatments.

Li notes that a well-established PN patient population is rare among academic institutions and a clear advantage for LSU research in this field. As an example, Li was recently contacted by the manufacturer of a new topical analgesic, an herbal-based product designed to alleviate the foot pain commonly suffered by PN patients. Since clinical trials are not mandated for non-drug treatments, such products rarely receive systematic scientific testing on human subjects.

Li’s group developed a controlled study to evaluate the product—already proven effective in animal models—with volunteers from the patient population within LSU Peripheral Neuropathy Studies.

The resulting double-blind study, now entering its second phase, uniquely features a questionnaire delivered at timed intervals via a handheld computer. Patients are prompted periodically to answer standardized questions regarding their level of pain, fatigue and other factors.

After thorough statistical analysis, the results indicate a surprisingly positive effect. According to Li’s data, patients’ pain symptoms recede for five to six hours after each treatment, more than twice the expectation. Results indicate that the product may be effective for more than 80% of patients, a figure also exceeding expectation by a wide margin.

In addition to existing private foundation and corporate support, several grant proposals are currently under review that would greatly expand the scope of neuropathic research in the department of kinesiology.

Until then, ongoing research and therapeutic programs will continue to assist those, like Curtis Whiten, whose lives could use a little balance.

...from the Autumn 2008 Issue