Tai Chi for Arthritis

Tai Chi (TC) has been practiced in China for centuries. Its effectiveness depends on the practitioner’s ability to perform correct posture and transfer of weight, controlled breathing, tension release, calmness of the mind and co-ordination of body movements.

In ancient times, practitioners of Chinese traditional medicine discovered that, performed slowly, the same components of Tai Chi that led to its success as an internal martial art, also held great therapeutic properties for the promotion and maintenance of health and well-being.

The combination of controlled movement in a state of relaxation, creates a ‘moving meditation’ exercise, making TC a safe form of complementary and alternative medicine that may be practised by people of all ages and abilities.

Many modern medical and scientific studies have been conducted on the benefit and effects of TC as a complimentary medicine for specific diseases and health related conditions. For those who suffer from arthritis, TC has been shown to offer positive health benefits.

In our experience at the Golden Lion Academy, we’ve found that apart from our TC programme for arthritis, our Dao Yin programme has also been very helpful.

Arthritis is a general term that includes about 150 different conditions that cause pain, stiffness and inflammation in one or more joints. It is known that some types of exercises, for example TC, can reduce some of the symptoms of arthritis and improve joint mobility and strength.

Benefits of Tai Chi for Arthritis

If you suffer from arthritis you'll be pleased to know that TC can offer the following benefits:

Tai Chi, Arthritis and Depression

Medical science has established a link between depression and pain. For many people with arthritis who suffer from chronic depression, increased pain and reduced pain tolerance can impact negatively on coping ability and quality of life. Concurrently, the reverse situation may also occur, where the chronic symptoms of arthritis such as pain, sleep disruption, inability to perform activities of daily living, loss of enjoyment, may result in temporary or chronic depression.

Using a calm and relaxed state of mind, TC assists to relieve anxiety, improves concentration, heightens awareness, raises self-esteem and self-confidence, while promoting a sense of ‘completeness’ and well-being.

With regular practice, TC provides relief from depression, making it a safe and effective form of stress-management. See also TC for Mental Health and Stress Management

Special Precautions

TC master Charles Tsui-Po of the Golden Lion Academy offers you some special precautions that you must take during your TC exercise programme if you suffer from arthritis. Click on this link to learn more.

Some References

Tai Chi for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Han A, Robinson V, Judd M, Taixiang W, Wells G, Tugwell P. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15266544?ordinalpos=14&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Group and home-based tai chi in elderly subjects with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. BrismÚe JM, Paige RL, Chyu MC, Boatright JD, Hagar JM, McCaleb JA, Quintela MM, Feng D, Xu KT, Shen CL. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17264104?ordinalpos=4& itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Exercise, education, and behavioral modification as alternative therapy for pain and stress in rheumatic disease. Yocum DE, Castro WL, Cornett M. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10680202?ordinalpos=20&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Back to Tai Chi Home Page