New Study Finds Surprising Help For Knee Osteoarthritis
November 4th, 2009 | by admin |
Knee X-ray
Men and Women 65 years and older who suffer from knee osteoarthritis (OA), that practice Tai Chi, improve their physical capability and experience decreased pain, according to a new Tufts University School of Medicine study. Osteoarthritis is a prevalent form of arthritis that brings about a breakdown of joint cartilage. Chiropractors provide therapy for a large number men and women suffering from OA in a number of areas of the body, including the joints of the knee. Knee pain and disability is one of the most widespread dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system, second only to spinal complaints. In fact, an extraordinary 4.3 million US adults over 60 years of age have been diagnosed with knee OA, according to the CDC, and it predicts that half of the men and women in America may develop symptoms of OA in at least one knee by age 85. Knee osteoarthritis results in pain, mobility limitations, functional disabilities, and a diminished quality of life.
Are you wondering why so many men and women develop OA? As with nearly all of the musculoskeletal dysfunctions that we develop as we age, undue stress to a joint day after day is a major determinant. It follows that as people age they are more susceptible to developing OA in their joints, including the knees. Abnormal function of the knee, poor gait, compensatory foot mechanics as an offset of foot pain, and repetitive use of the knee joint all create excessive stress on the knees. Eventually arthritic changes in the knee joint develop. As an adjunct to chiropractic treatment, chiropractors fully advocate natural, drug-free practices, such as Tai Chi (Chuan), that can mitigate knee pain. Tai Chi (Chuan) is a traditional style of Chinese martial arts that features slow, rhythmic movements that create peace of mind, as well as increased balance, an augmentation of strength, and improved flexibility.
In otherwise good health, the 40 adults with confirmed OA that were chosen for the Tufts study were on an average 65 years of age and overweight. Participants were randomly chosen to take part in 60-minute “Yang style” Tai Chi sessions twice weekly for 12 weeks. Each session included a 10-minute self-massage and a review of Tai Chi principles, 30 minutes of Tai Chi movement, 10 minutes of breathing technique, and 10 minutes of relaxation.
Tai Chi practice involves the kind of range of motion, flexibility, muscle conditioning, and aerobic workout that is compatible with current exercise recommendations for osteoarthritis. As an added benefit, researchers observed that the “mental aspect” of Tai Chi promoted a sense of well-being, life contentment, and impressions of health that helped the participants to deal differently with chronic pain. Compared with the control group, the group practicing Tai Chi exhibited a considerable decrease in knee pain.
Full findings of the study are published in the November 2009 issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology.