What is Tai Chi?
Tai Chi is an ancient form of martial arts where the movements are performed in a slow, fluid, circular and controlled manner.
Sometimes referred to as mediation in slow motion, it has been shown to have a positive impact on both
physical and psychological function.
Tai Chi encourages participants to breathe deeply and foster a mind-body connection that may help to relieve stress.
Importantly for osteoarthritis sufferers, the slowing down of movement allows the joints to remain stable while working the muscles with little or no impact. You could say it’s an exercise with “no pain, big gain”.
Tai Chi and osteoarthritis
There is evidence to suggest that Tai Chi can offer a wide range of benefits for osteoarthritis sufferers, including:
- Improved strength and flexibility
- Improved balance
- Improved functional mobility
- Relief of joint pain
- Improved quality of life
- Reduced joint stiffness
A
study published in
Asian Nursing Research investigated the long term affects of Tai Chi on physical health and quality of life.
Thirty adults with osteoarthritis took part in the study, performing Tai Chi 3 times a week over a 2-year period. Subjects were re-assessed at regular intervals, with quality of life measured by a variety of markers including physical function, pain, vitality and mental health.
What the researchers found was that participants experienced significant improvements in quality of life, specifically in their perception of physical functioning, social functioning and physical role limitations. And while more research into this area needs to be done, the study authors found theses improvements in quality of life to be promising.
Get the latest in wellbeing news
Sign up to the fortnightly wellbeing update and get the latest articles, recipes and more delivered straight to your inbox!