Knee X-ray
People over 65 years of age who’ve been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (OA), that practice Tai Chi, increase their physical capability and encounter less pain, according to a new Tufts University School of Medicine study. Osteoarthritis is a general form of arthritis that causes a breakdown of joint cartilage. Chiropractors treat quite a few individuals who have developed OA in a number of places in the body, including the knee joints. Knee pain and disability is one of the most prevalent problems of the musculoskeletal system, second only to spinal abnormalities. In fact, an astounding 4.3 million individuals in the U.S. over age 60 have been diagnosed with knee OA, according to the CDC, and it conjectures that by age 85, half of the people in America may incur symptoms of OA. Knee OA causes pain, mobility limitations, dysfunction and disability, and a reduced quality of life.
You may be wondering why so many men and women develop OA. Undue stress over time is a major determinant in the majority of musculoskeletal conditions that develop as we get older. Therefore, as people age they are more susceptible to developing OA in their joints, including the knees. Abnormal mechanics of the knee, improper gait, compensatory foot mechanics as the result of foot pain, and overload of the knee joint all create inordinate stress on the knees. Consequently arthritic changes in the knee joint take place. As an adjunct to chiropractic care, chiropractors enthusiastically endorse 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 produce peace of mind, as well as improved balance, an increase in strength, and improved flexibility.
In otherwise good health, the 40 men and women with confirmed OA that were picked for the Tufts study were, on 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 incorporates the variety of range of motion, flexibility, muscle conditioning, and aerobic workout that is consistent with contemporary exercise protocols for osteoarthritis. As an added benefit, researchers found that the “mental component” of Tai Chi encouraged a sense of well-being, life enjoyments, and perceptions of health that aided the participants in dealing 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.
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