Tai Chi practice may be helpful for people with arthritis, as London Physiotherapists will be aware. The study was published in Arthritis Care & Research in June 2009.
However, the effect overall was small.
The researchers analysed the results of seven research trials of Tai Chi as the main treatment for forms of musculoskeletal pain, finding that this intervention reduced pain and disability in arthritic patients.
Arthritis, the commonest type being the age-related condition osteoarthritis, is a common and disabling chronic condition in millions of people around the world, causing significant suffering and expense.
Levels of disability, tension levels, self rated happiness with health and general physical health were all areas which exhibited a trend towards improvement.
Physiotherapists know that exercise is helpful in treating arthritic pain, with aerobic, stretching and muscle strengthening programmes typically employed. Tai Chi is typically practised in a group but can also be done individually which makes it ideal for regular practice.
Perhaps we should not be too surprised at these results. We know that exercise is a very good strategy for arthritic and many other pains. The big problem however is compliance, keeping going with a programme over a long period of time.
Perhaps the concentration should be on physios finding a type of exercise which appeals to the individual patient and then facilitating the long term adherence to this as part of their life, a self-maintenance programme as natural as washing or dressing. Tai Chi is a fine choice, but there could be many others. |
