Tai Chi found efficacious for the treatment of pain and physical impairment in people with severe knee osteoarthritis.

In October 2008 researchers from Tufts Medical Center in Boston presented results to the American College of Rheumatology on a clinical study which concluded that “tai chi is efficacious for the treatment of pain and physical impairment in people with severe knee osteoarthritis.”

In the study forty people who suffered from severe knee osteoarthritis for over a decade were divided into two groups: one performed conventional stretching exercises; the other group practiced tai chi twice a week for one hour. After 12 weeks, the tai chi group showed significant reductions in pain and depression and significant improvements in physical function and proprioception.

Head researcher Chenchen Wang, commented that “tai chi mind-body exercise appears to provide an important approach for self-care and self-management for knee OA.” He called for larger studies to confirm the results of the study.

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