T’ai chi lowers osteoarthritis pain, and improves movement and stiffness
T’ai chi, the slow movement exercise from China, is a great non-drug way for helping people cope with their osteoarthritis. It reduces pain levels, and improves movement and joint stiffness.
A team of reviewers – including arch sceptic Edzard Ernst – came to their positive conclusion after analysing nine clinical trials that involved 256 osteoarthritis sufferers.
They discovered that t’ai chi is especially good for improving physical movement. It also reduces pain and joint stiffness, they found.
However, the researchers say they would have liked to have reviewed more trials to be sure of the positive impact that t’ai chi has on osteoarthritis.
(Source: BMJ Open, 2011; 1: e000035).