An Integration of Tai Chi and Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Sleep Disturbance in Older Adults

Tai Chi (TC) is a traditional Chinese exercise, also known as a mind-body exercise. It is suitable as an alternative or supplementary form of routine physical exercise for older adults. TC focuses on gentle and rhythmical movements while maintaining a meditative state. Low to moderate activities have benefits to improve sleep disturbances in older adults. In addition, growing evidence widely supports meditation as a potential intervention to improve sleep disturbances through reducing repetitive negative thoughts such as worry and rumination.

The brain stimulation technique repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) provides the opportunity to non-invasively modulate cortical excitability. In general, low-frequency rTMS (≤ 1 Hz) is thought to inhibit cortical excitability.