Tai Chi benefits older people with osteoarthritis and other long-term conditions
The ancient Chinese martial art, Tai Chi, can improve physical function and quality-of-life of older people with a range of long-term conditions including osteoarthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, breast cancer and heart failure, says a new study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
A team from Canada analysed a total of 21 studies in which participants (aged from their 50s to their 70s) took part in two to three Tai Chi sessions a week for 12 weeks, with most classes lasting an hour.
Results
- Tai Chi was associated with trends or definite improvement in physical capacity and muscle strength in most or all of the four long-term conditions under consideration;
- In people with osteoarthritis, there was some relief from pain and stiffness and improvement in sit-to-stand tests, a common way to assess lower-extremity strength and balance;
- In people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, there was a reduction in breathlessness;
- There was an overall improvement in the six-minute walking test, a simple way to evaluate the capacity to do functional exercise;
- There was an overall improvement in the TUG time, which is the time it takes to get up and move about.
The research team concludes:
“The results demonstrated a favourable effect or tendency of Tai Chi to improve physical performance and showed that this type of exercise could be performed by individuals with different chronic conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure and osteoarthritis.”
Click here to read the original research
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Image credit: Robert Bejil
