Healthy clapping songs for the elderly

The essence of "Healthy Clapping Song for the Elderly" is an age-friendly exercise program that combines the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine meridian stimulation, low-intensity aerobic exercise and rhythmic memory. It has a clear clinical positive effect on improving peripheral circulation and soothing emotions, but it does not have the miraculous effect of "catching up chronic diseases". It is suitable for ordinary elderly people aged 60-80 years old without severe metacarpal joint injuries or upper limb mobility impairments. Exercises for 10-15 minutes each time and 3-5 times a week have the highest benefits.

When I was doing volunteer follow-up work at a street health center two years ago, I was first exposed to this exercise by a small team led by Aunt Li in the community. They practiced under the grapefruit tree in the small garden at eight o'clock every morning. More than 20 people worked together, and the sound of clapping was crisp and clear. The lyrics were also changed to have a local accent, which could be heard from a distance. At first, I was worried that it was another health gimmick to harvest the elderly, until I sorted out the three-month follow-up records - among the 32 elderly people who practiced at least three times a week, 27 said that their old problem of cold hands and feet in winter was much relieved. They used to wear two pairs of socks to cover their feet that were not warm, but now they can keep their feet warm all night after soaking them before going to bed; 19 people who had problems with gastric bloating after meals said that their digestion was much better. As for the elderly people with high blood pressure and diabetes, no one said that their indicators had dropped. They just mentioned that they clap and sing together with their old friends every day. Their moods are much brighter. They have not stopped taking the medicines they should take, and their recent physical examination indicators are very stable.

Nowadays, there are two sides of the Internet talking about this set of clapping songs. On one side, people who sell health care courses are extolling it. They say that the bruises on the palms of clapping are "detoxification" and that insisting on clapping can lower blood sugar, eliminate nodules, and even treat cancer. On the other side, many orthopedic doctors have come out to speak out, saying that excessive clapping can induce tenosynovitis and metacarpal contusion. This is purely IQ tax. In fact, what both sides say is not unreasonable. The problem is that many people simply do not understand the correct way to open it.

Last month, I picked up Uncle Wang at the health care center. He listened to the live broadcast class and filmed it for two hours every day at home with his eyes closed. His palms were bruised and purple, but he still held it and said it was "draining moisture". In the end, the pain was so bad that he couldn't hold chopsticks. He went to the orthopedics department of the hospital and was prescribed a blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing plaster for a week before he recovered. Oh, by the way, the formal clapping movement is not about clapping as loudly as possible. You have to use empty palms, and arch your palms slightly. The point of exerting force is the wrist, not the arm. When clapping, you can feel a slight shock in the palm of your hand. The force is about the same as patting a junior on the back to coax him to eat. There is no need to clap yourself until your hands are bruised.

Many people think that clapping songs have to be memorized according to the fixed lyrics of "You clap one and I clap one, the health of the elderly is number one" uploaded on the Internet. In fact, the versions circulating in the community have long been modified in various ways. Old people with bad waists have replaced squatting movements with slow waist twists, and those with bone spurs in the knees have replaced stomping movements with gentle tiptoes. There are even Several grandmothers who were raising babies changed all the lyrics into tips for raising babies, such as "You take one shot and I will take one shot. Don't forget to bring a coat when picking up the baby." "You take two shots and I will take two shots. When you go out, you must bring a water bottle lid." The filming was still lively and the effect was not bad - it was originally an activity for the elderly, and it was not a gymnastics certificate test, so it was not a mistake to stick to standard moves.

To put it bluntly, the principle is not complicated. We have the Laogong point on the palm of the hand, the Hegu point on the back of the hand, and many reflex zones corresponding to the internal organs between the fingers. Evenly rhythmic tapping can stimulate peripheral blood circulation. Coupled with smooth lyrics, there is no need to use the brain to remember complicated movements, and there is no burden during practice. Compared with square dancing, you don’t have to move around, and you won’t be out of breath from exhaustion. You can practice it standing on the balcony at home on a cloudy and rainy day. The threshold is so low, and it’s normal to be popular.

I also taught a simplified version to my mother before. She had an old knee injury, so she didn’t even have to stand on tiptoes, so she just stood up and filmed. I changed the lyrics for her into excerpts from the Pingju opera "Liu Qiaoer" that she loved to listen to. She stood on the balcony and filmed for ten minutes after dinner every day. Now when she goes shopping with her old sisters for two hours, her hands are not so swollen that she can't take off the ring like before.

In the final analysis, this healthy clapping song for the elderly is a light exercise method tailored for the elderly. Don’t praise it too highly, and don’t beat it to death with a stick. If you have the mentality of "cure all diseases", you will definitely be disappointed, and you will easily be fooled by scammers and get injured by practicing blindly; but if you just spare ten minutes a day, clap and sing with your old neighbors, move your hands and feet, you will feel better, eat and sleep better, isn't this more reliable than health care products that often cost hundreds or thousands of dollars?