Knee X-ray
A new study conducted by Tufts University School of Medicine had concluded that patients 65 years and older with knee osteoarthritis (OA), and who practice Tai Chi, enhanced their physical capability and experienced a decrease in pain. Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis that brings about an erosion of joint cartilage. Chiropractors treat quite a few people who have developed OA in a number of areas of the body, including the knee joints. Knee pain and disability is one of the most widespread dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system, second only to spinal abnormalities. 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 anticipates that half of the people in America may suffer from symptoms of OA in at least one knee by age 85. Knee osteoarthritis results in pain, mobility limitations, dysfunction and disability, and a reduced quality of life.
You may be wondering why so many adults develop OA. Undue stress over time is a major element in the majority of musculoskeletal problems 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 an offset of foot pain, and overuse of the knee joint all produce undue stress on the knees. Over time arthritic changes in the knee joint take place. Most chiropractors advocate such natural, drug-free practices as Tai Chi, in addition to their chiropractic care. A traditional style of Chinese martial arts,Tai Chi features slow, rhythmic movements that produce mental relaxation, as well as improved balance, an increase in strength, and improved flexibility.
The 40 adults chosen for the Tufts study were, on average, 65 years of age, overweight, and with confirmed osteoarthritis of the knee. Otherwise they were healthy. Patients were randomly picked to participate 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 incorporates many of the prevailing exercise recommendations for OA, such as range of motion, flexibility, muscle conditioning, and aerobic workout. As an added benefit, researchers noted that the “mental component” of Tai Chi stimulated a sense of well-being, life enjoyments, and personal concepts of health that helped the participants to deal differently with chronic pain. Compared with the control group, the group practicing Tai Chi experienced 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.
