Tai Chi Exercise Can Decrease Pain In Knees

A new study shows that Tai Chi exercise can help lessen the pain in the knee and improve osteoarthritis symptoms in older patients. Around 4.3 million adults over 60 in the United States have knee osteoarthritis. Almost half of American adults may also develop symptoms by the age of 85. Tufts University School of Medicine studied 40 patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis and made half of them exercise through Tai Chi twice a week over a three-month period.

Tai Chi is a type of exercise that focuses on the mind and the body. The Yang-style Tai Chi sessions that the participants of the study went through consisted of 10 minutes of self-message and review, 30 minutes of movement, 10 minutes of breathing exercises, and 10 minutes of relaxing. The other half of the participants went to two 60-minute classes weekly for the same three-month period to learn about diet, nutrition, and treatments for osteoarthritis. In addition, they stretched for 20 minutes.

Results showed that those who practiced Tai Chi reported less knee pain than the group who went to classes. This Tai Chi group also had less depression symptoms and better physical function and overall health.

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