Tai Chi: Effective Osteoarthritis Remedy According to Research

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder, more common in the elderly. Even younger people who overuse or misuse their joints are prone to having it. If you get knee pain, joint mobility problems, and clicking sounds in your joints, you just might be one of the millions of people who suffer from pain due to osteoarthritis. Luckily, research shows that Tai Chi provides natural pain relief for people with osteoarthritis.

People suffering from osteoarthritis are more prone to the side effects of drugs because of their age. They also have higher risks when subjected to surgery, further compounding the problem. Thankfully, unlike other pain remedies that claim to provide safe natural pain relief, Tai Chi was actually proven to safely and effectively alleviate osteoarthritis pain.

 

Tai Chi Fights Osteoarthritis Pain

Currently, research shows that Tai Chi also effectively relieves pain:

• Regular Tai Chi exercise lessens osteoarthritis pain significantly. According to a study from Tufts University School of Medicine, people over 65 years old suffering from osteoarthritis who engaged in regular Tai Chi.
• Half of adults aged 80 and above will suffer from knee pain, according to a report from the Center of Disease Control. Because of the frequency of osteoarthritis in the elderly, Tai Chi is an important pain remedy because, unlike drugs and surgery, it provides pain relief without putting someone’s health at risk.
• Tai Chi, aside from relieving pain, also promotes mental and physical health. Learning Tai Chi will help you relax and become better coordinated. It also improves your equilibrium, reducing the risk for falls and fractures.

Proper Tai Chi

• Sixty minutes of Tai Chi done in Yang style reduces joint pain. According to a study done by Wang and colleagues, one hour of Tai Chi done two times a week for three months effectively provides natural pain relief.
• One session of Tai Chi should include self-massage, movement, breathing, and relaxation. To become an effective means of providing natural pain relief, each Tai Chi session should include 10 minutes of self massage including a short review of the principles of Tai Chi, half an hour of Tai Chi movement, ten minutes involving breathing techniques, concluded by ten minutes worth of relaxation.

Source:

www.medscape.com

Tai Chi: Proven Natural Pain Relief for Osteoarthritis

In the U.S. alone, there are about 4.3 million adults aged 60 and above diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Because this condition manifests with joint pain, a lot of people suffering from osteoarthritis have  great disability. Osteoarthritis pain can greatly reduce the quality of your life. Thankfully, research shows that Tai Chi can help you overcome osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis involves gradual degeneration of the joints, with wearing and thinning of the cartilage. If you are suffering from osteoarthritis, you are bound to experience not only pain, but also limited joint movements. Both of these symptoms can greatly change the way you function everyday.

 

What is Tai Chi?

Tai Chi has gained popularity over the years. It is commonly used as an exercise regimen, not only in China but all over the world:

• Tai Chi, or Chuan, is a classic method of martial arts in China. It improves the body’s function and flexibility.
• It is an exercise that involves rhythmic, slow movements. Tai Chi improves strength, balance, and quality of life.
• The regularity and slow pace of Tai Chi provides mental relaxation.

How should Tai Chi be performed?

• Tai Chi should be performed for one hour, twice weekly. In order to reap the most benefits, Tai Chi should be continued for 3 months.
• First ten minutes should involve self massage and a brief review of the principles of Tai Chi. Massage promotes blood flow to the joints and increased endorphin levels. The Tai Chi review jogs your memory, helping you stay sharp and focused.
• The next half hour should be dedicated to exercise movements of Tai Chi. These slow and rhythmic movements help you become limber. They also promote flexibility, balance, and strength, all of which play a role in reducing the manifestations and pain of osteoarthritis.
• The next ten minutes will be devoted to breathing techniques. Breathing techniques are an effective way to relax your mind and body. They help promote mental well-being, helping increase your threshold for pain.
• The last ten minutes involve relaxation. This is another feature of Tai Chi that helps improve your general outlook in life. Mental relaxation helps you cope better with the chronic pain of osteoarthritis.

Read about the results of the research done on Tai Chi and osteoarthritis pain relief.

Has Tai Chi helped improve your life? Share your success story in the comments section below!

Sources:

Arthritis Care and Research

www.medscape.com

Study Shows Magnetic Bracelets Relieve Pain

In a previous post, a study determining the effectiveness of magnetic bracelets against pain was discussed. One hundred ninety-four patients suffering from osteoarthritis, specifically of the knee and hip, were included in the study.

Summary of the Study

These patients were divided into three groups. The first group wore strong magnetic bracelets of 170 to 200 mTesla. The second group wore weak magnetic bracelets of 21 to 30 mTesla. Finally, the third wore non-magnetic bracelets.

The patients were asked to wear the bracelets for twelve weeks. After this period, the degree of pain relief was compared. Note that all three groups were not aware as to what type of bracelet they were wearing, so they could not “fake” their results.

Results of the Study

There was greater pain relief (WOMAC A) in the first group of patients who used magnetic bracelets compared to the third group who used non-magnetic bracelets.

There was greater improvement in the level of functioning (WOMAC C) in the first group of patients who used magnetic bracelets compared to the third group who used non-magnetic bracelets.

There was no difference in leg stiffness (WOMAC B) among the groups. However, this indicator has always been seen as lacking sensitivity.

As to how magnetic bracelets provide natural pain relief is not known. This may be due to different mechanisms of action; in fact, this may be due to psychological factors. However, the use of non-magnetic bracelets did not bring relief, indicating that pain relief was actually due to the magnetic characteristic of bracelets.

The study therefore shows that magnetic bracelets are a promising natural pain relief modality. They have been shown to provide pain relief for osteoarthritis involving both the knee and the hip, more than any placebo device.

More studies are needed to show if wearing magnetic bracelets beyond 3 months actually continues to provide natural pain relief. This study has opened the doors for investigating magnets and their role in promoting health and providing a natural way for people to overcome pain, especially from osteoarthritis of the knee and of the hip.

To know more about the details of the above study, read this.

Source: “Magnetic Bracelets May Reduce the Pain of Lower Limb Osteoarthritis” by Yael Waknine from Medscape Medical News

Research Shows Magnetic Bracelets Provide Relief

Magnetic bracelets have been sold for a long time as alternative treatment to pain. They have been marketed as trinkets that promote health all over the world. Magnetic bracelet vendors have claimed that these devices help reduce pain, prompting thousands of people to buy magnetic bracelets in hopes of effective and natural pain relief.

However, they have been met with a lot of criticism and are sometimes seen as another component of “quack” medicine.

A study previously published in the British Medical Journal showed that magnetic bracelets were proven to actually provide relief from pain due to osteoarthritis, specifically of the knee and the hip.

It has been shown that different studies showed contradicting evidence because these studies used different magnets of different strengths. Also, these studies studied different conditions and different treatment periods. Therefore, a study was done to determine the specific effect of magnetic bracelets on knee and hip osteoarthritis.

Details of the study

• The study was done by researchers from Peninsula Medical school.
• There were 194 patients involved, between forty-five and eighty years old.
• All of the patients complained of osteoarthritis of knees and hips.
• Patients were grouped in three. The first group used magnetic bracelets of 170 to 200 mTesla strength. The second group used magnetic bracelets of a weaker strength (21 to 30 mTesla). The last group used bracelets with no magnetic capacities.
• These patients continued to wear the bracelets for three months.
• Pain was evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Three indicators were evaluated: pain, stiffness of legs, and level of functioning, corresponding to WOMAC A, B, and C.
• After the study, the researchers found out that the second group of bracelets (the ones with a weaker magnetic strength) were “contaminated”. Their strengths were found to be a lot more than their expected strengths. However, both the first and third groups were unaffected.

The study showed significant differences between pain relief afforded by strong magnets, weak magnets, and non-magnetic bracelets. To view the results of the study, click here.