Tai chi, a form of Chinese martial art, has become popular in the U.S. as exercise, with its slow, continuous movements.

But this class, held in a room of Hatcher Hall on the LSU campus, is different.

Launched almost six years ago, it helps people with peripheral neuropathy, a disease that can cause tingling, pain and numbness in the feet, legs, hands and arms and make it difficult to balance and to walk.

Last semester, the program expanded to offer the free classes to another group of people who have difficulties with balance and walking - those with Parkinson's disease.

The neurodegenerative brain disorder impacts the production of a chemical that helps with the control of body movements, according to several medical Web sites.

"I would say, on the standpoint of balance and coordination overall, I think it's been an improvement," said Glen Meyers, 61, of the tai chi class he's been in for several months at LSU.

Meyers learned he has Parkinson's in 2007, after several months of medical testing.

He said medicine has been helpful. He has opted to keep his dosage lower to avoid some side effects and lives with a tremor in his right arm, he said.

He tries to never miss a tai chi class, he said.

"A little improvement is a lot for me. In a disease that's progressive, to be able to stall it or see some improvement is a pretty big thing for me," Meyers said.

Li Li began the peripheral neuropathy studies in the summer of 2004, in LSU's Department of Kinesiology in the College of Education. He said he believes the tai chi intervention program is the only one of its kind in the country. "There's a lot of research out there showing tai chi helps balance."

Source: http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100413/HEALTH/4130346/1242/health/Tai-chi-helps-mobility-impaired