Tai Chi May Ease Arthritis Pain

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Elderly people with painful arthritis may find relief in an ancient Chinese exercise that combines slow movement with meditation, preliminary study findings suggest.

Tai Chi was shown to significantly reduce levels of pain in men and women aged 68 to 87 who suffered from chronic joint pain. After 10 weeks, those who practiced 16 movements reported significantly less pain than their peers did.

In fact, those who did not learn Tai Chi reported more pain after 10 weeks, according to the report in a recent issue of the Journal of Nursing Scholarship.

The researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio explain that Tai Chi may help to reduce pain by increasing circulation and stimulating the repair of damaged joint surfaces.

``In addition, it stabilizes joint structure by strengthening the soft tissue support of the joint,'' Patricia Adler, the study's lead author, said in a prepared statement.

Tai Chi may also help otherwise sedentary adults to become more active.

``Often, older people will not come to (exercise) class because they're afraid they are going to fall, they're afraid their needs won't be met, and they're afraid of the pain,'' Adler, a doctoral student, said. ``But when they learn that Tai Chi is a gentle exercise that can help their pain, they become interested.''

The study included 16 people with chronic arthritis pain. Half attended 10 weekly one-hour classes, while half did not take Tai Chi. Those who took classes were encouraged to practice.

``More research on the effects of Tai Chi is needed before recommending it for pain relief and health,'' the study concludes.

SOURCE: Journal of Nursing Scholarship 2001;32:377.

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