Tai Chi may help elderly with knee osteoarthritis
May 13, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
A study done out of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center has found that 6 weeks of Tai Chi exercise among elderly patients significantly improved knee pain and stiffness.
Tai Chi is an ancient martial art that combines physical exercise with mental exercise. Emphasis is placed on movement and posture.
In this study, published in the The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, researchers followed 40 men and women and measured their knee pain before beginning a Tai Chi program and again after 6 weeks. They found that their physical function was significantly improved and their complaints of knee pain were fewer.
These findings back up the findings of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2004, that found that the the martial art improved strength, balance and flexibility in seniors and improved pain and function in people who lived with arthritis.
Image: Newscom
~~~~~~~
Technorati Tags: chronic pain blog,pain blog,osteoarthritis,knee osteoarthritis,knee pain and stiffness,tai chi helps arthritis
