Tai Chi Cuts Arthritic Pain By Half

Tai Chi Form

In a recent study researchers at Tufts University in Massachusetts found that patients that suffer from arthritis respond very well to a course in Tai Chi Chuan. After just 12 weeks or learning and practicing Tai Chi every day, subjects experienced much less pain. In the study patients also did traditional stretching exercises, and these did not perform too well. In fact they described Tai Chi as being significantly better at pain management.

Tai Chi Chuan (or just Tai Chi) is practiced by millions of people all around the world for its health, mental benefits and its martial arts training. Tai Chi Chuan is the martial form (the original form) of Tai Chi. The soft flowing movements (form) of Tai Chi are in fact fighting and self-defense applications that are designed to condition the body and train it to respond to an opponent, to feel an opponent’s movement and intention, to make them a better fighter. Yang Mar Lee, granddaughter of Yang Chen Fu, one of modern Tai Chi’s founders, teaches that without the martial training, most of the health benefits of Tai Chi are lost. This always comes as a great surprise to people that have only learned the form, and never had any martial training.

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Previous studies had suggested that Tai Chi could be useful in treating arthritis, but they were never conclusive. The recent research was carried out on people with arthritic knees, which is a very painful form of arthritis that affects thousands of people. It is most common in elderly people.

“Our observations emphasize a need to further evaluate the biologic mechanisms and approaches of Tai Chi to extend its benefits to a broader population.”Dr Chenchen Wang, Research Leader.

Not only did 12 weeks of Tai Chi training help people cope with pain, but they also felt less depressed and more agile than previously, and were generally happier with life in general.

Photo by shenanagans

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