Study: Those Who Suffer From Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) Find Relief Through Tai Chi Practice
Knee X-ray
Men and Women that are at least 65 years of age or older who’ve been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (OA), that practice Tai Chi, increase their physical capability and encounter decreased pain, according to a new Tufts University School of Medicine study. Osteoarthritis is a prevalent form of arthritis that causes a breakdown of joint cartilage. Chiropractors provide therapy for a large number people who suffer with OA in a number of regions of the body, including the knee joints. Knee pain and disability is one of the most prevalent dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system, second only to spinal dysfunctions. In fact, an astonishing 4.3 million US adults over 60 years of age have been diagnosed with knee OA, according to the CDC, and it conjectures that half of the men and women in America may develop symptoms of OA in at least one knee by age 85. The consequences of knee osteoarthritis are pain, mobility limitations, dysfunction and disability, and a diminished quality of life.
Are you wondering why so many people develop OA? Undue stress over time is a major element in the majority of musculoskeletal conditions that develop as we get older. Therefore, as people get older they are more likely to develop OA in their knees, as well as other joints. Incorrect function of the knee, poor gait, compensatory foot mechanics as a consequence of foot pain, and overload of the knee joint all produce undue stress on the knees. Eventually arthritic changes in the knee joint take place. In combination with chiropractic therapies, chiropractors wholeheartedly support natural, drug-free practices, such as Tai Chi (Chuan), that can mitigate knee pain. A traditional style of Chinese martial arts,Tai Chi features slow, rhythmic movements that produce mental relaxation, as well as improved balance, an increase in strength, and improved flexibility.
The 40 participants in the Tufts study were, on average, 65 years of age, overweight, and with confirmed OA, but in otherwise good health. Patients were chosen at random to engage in 60-minute “Yang style” Tai Chi sessions twice weekly for 12 weeks. Each session included a 10-minute self-massage and a review of Tai Chi principles, 30 minutes of Tai Chi movement, 10 minutes of breathing technique, and 10 minutes of relaxation.
Tai Chi practice incorporates the variety of range of motion, flexibility, muscle conditioning, and aerobic workout that is consistent with contemporary exercise advice for osteoarthritis. As an added benefit, researchers observed that the “mental aspect” of Tai Chi encouraged a sense of well-being, life contentment, and impressions of health that helped the participants to deal differently with chronic pain. Compared with the control group, the group practicing Tai Chi experienced a considerable decrease in knee pain.
Full findings of the study are published in the November 2009 issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology.
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