The Chinese art of Tai Chi can improve the lives of people with arthritis, researchers reported last night.
An Australian study has concluded that Tai Chi is an effective treatment to decrease pain and disability.
Researchers of the George Institute, of Sydney, Australia, reached their conclusions from a study of seven randomised trials that tested the art of Tai Chi for treating pain linked to arthritis.
The findings are published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research.
They show that the technique improves normal health care for arthritis – but do not show how it might compare with other exercise therapies.
The researchers, led by Amanda Hall, state: "The fact that Tai Chi is inexpensive, convenient, and enjoyable and conveys other psychological and social benefits supports the use this type of intervention for pain conditions such as arthritis."
"The Effectiveness of Tai Chi for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Amanda Hall, Chris Maher, Jane Latimer, Manuela Ferreira, Arthritis Care & Research, June 2009.
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