Tai Chi can help osteoarthritis patients

The day is sunny and bright. You’re looking forward to a fun weekend at the park with your family. The picnic basket is prepared, and so are the children’s toys and favorite things.

But your knee suddenly hurts, and you could hardly walk. A few minutes later, it’s swelling and tender to the touch. You’re experiencing an attack of osteoarthritis just when it’s the last thing you need.

You’re not alone. A survey in Beijing, China showed that 15 percent of women and 5.6 percent of men 60 years old and up have osteoarthritis (OA), a primary reason for disability, especially in older people.

The joint disease hampers movement and exacts a heavy burden on healthcare. While arthritis medicines abound in the market, there are other safer ways to beat the disease. You don’t harm your liver, and you can make new friends along the way.

That treatment – and form of prevention – is the Chinese form of martial arts called Tai Chi.

Tai Chi (known as Taijiquan in some areas)  is also called "meditation in motion" because its slow, rhythmic body movements promote relaxation and tranquility. Movements rely on internal energy, which, when unleashed, can neutralize a powerful attacker.

A team of researchers from the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Shanghai University of Sport conducted a study to find out whether the ancient art of Tai Chi can help osteoarthritis patients regain mobility by easing joint pain through slow, deliberate movements.

The study focused on 60- to 70-year old female OA patients from Shanghai, who all suffered from knee problems. They joined Tai Chi sessions thrice a week for 24 straight weeks.

Sessions were divided into three stages. The first imparted theoretical knowledge on Tai Chi. The second involved application of Tai Chi practices. The third involved the same procedure, this with the presence of an instructor.

Results published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine showed that osteoarthritis patients were able to flex their knees more after 24 weeks of Tai Chi. This means that the stiffness in their knee joints was reduced, or it disappeared altogether. (Related: Scorpion venom: A natural remedy for rheumatoid arthritis?)

The benefits of Tai Chi extended beyond the physical. It also improved the psychological well-being of patients with knee OA, since controlled breathing and movements promote rest and tranquility.