A new study indicates that the ancient Chinese martial art “Tai Chi” may treat knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis.
The study results indicate that Tai Chi, which can be practiced through free online instruction, provides an effective, safe, easy and scalable option to improve access to the exercise guidelines recommended for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
Tai Chi, a Chinese internal martial art originally developed for self-defense, is a mental and physical practice that combines deep breathing, slow concentration, and fluid movements.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Melbourne in Australia, and its results were published in JAMA Internal Medicine on October 27, and the British newspaper Daily Mail wrote about it.
Exercise, weight management, and physical therapy are common methods doctors recommend for treating osteoarthritis, but they are often not enough to control pain and stiffness.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis – or wear-and-tear arthritis – occurs when the protective cartilage at the end of the bone wears down over time, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the joint when the bones rub against it. The knee is the joint most susceptible to injury, accounting for just over half of cases of this condition.
The researchers divided 178 participants with osteoarthritis, with an average age of 61 years, into two groups of 89 participants each.
One group was assigned an unsupervised 12-week online Tai Chi course to complete, along with access to online materials about and information about the benefits of exercise for osteoarthritis patients. Meanwhile, the control group was simply given access to online resources.
Over the course of 3 months, researchers found that 73% of the Tai Chi group noticed a noticeable difference in pain compared to only 47% of the control group.