Tai Chi Research » Bone Health

Study finds tai chi reduces bone loss in breast cancer survivors.

David Bendall — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:02:27 +0000

Treatments for breast cancer can accelerate bone loss leading to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fracture. Researchers at Rochester Medical Center carried out a pilot study to investigate if tai chi could reduce bone loss compared to standard exercise support therapy. The researchers found that biomarkers of bone formation increased more in the tai chi group than in the standard therapy group, while biomarkers of bone resorption decrease more in the tai chi group than in the standard therapy group. These findings suggest that tai chi has a positive effect on bone loss.

Note: Since other studies have found that tai chi can reduce the risk of falls the positive effects on bone loss found in this study are likely to result in a greater decrease in risk of fractures than would result from decreased falls or increased bone density alone.

Abstract

Tai chi beneficial for older women with osteopaenia.

David Bendall — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:09:02 +0000

A randomized trial carried out by researchers at Texas Tech University found that 24 weeks of tai chi improved general health, vitality, and stride width while decreasing pain compared to a control group. The study involved randomly dividing 61 females aged 65 plus with low bone mass into two groups. The first group practiced tai chi three times per week one hour per session for 24 weeks. The other group was a control group who did not receive tai chi training.

Abstract

Study compares the effects of tai chi and resistance exercises on bone health, muscle strength and balance among seniors.

David Bendall — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:04:55 +0000

Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong studied the effects of tai chi and resistance training on bone health, muscle strength and balance among seniors aged 65-74. 90 men and 90 women were randomly assigned to either a tai chi group, resistance training group or non-exercising control group. The tai chi and resistance training groups both exercised three times a week for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks both the tai chi and the resistance training group had a statistically significant reduction in hip bone mineral density loss among women, but not among men. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in spine bone mineral density, balance, strength, number of falls or flexibility measurements after 12 months.

While the difference in the number of falls reported was not statistically significant, there were half as many falls in the tai chi group as in the control group, (15 out of 60 vs. 31 of 60 for the control group) and about a third less falls (15/60 vs. 24/60) than in the resistance training group. While these results weren’t statistically significant they are consistent with other studies which have observed large reductions in falls among seniors who learn tai chi.

Some of the results of this study differed from the results of other studies. For instance, other studies have shown that resistance training can increase strength in the elderly however no increase in strength in the resistance training group compared to the control group was observed in this study. The authors speculate that in this cohort of individuals the tolerated levels of exercise may not have been great enough to provide observable changes. The authors also note that during the 12 month period the government launched a healthy aging campaign, and it is possible that control subjects may have modified their lifestyles accordingly. It is interesting to note that the control group as well as the tai chi and resistance training groups showed increased balance, strength and bone mineral density in the spine after 12 months.

Abstract

Pilot study compares the effect of tai chi and resistance training on bone metabolism in the elderly.

David Bendall — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:49:28 +0000

Researchers at Texas Tech in Lubbock Texas carried out a pilot study designed to compare the effects of tai chi to resistance training on bone metabolism. Twenty eight sedentary elderly adults were randomly assigned to 24 weeks of either tai chi or resistance training. Both groups participated in three 45 minute exercise sessions per week. The researchers measured markers of bone formation and bone reabsorption. After 6 weeks both groups had higher levels of serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) a biochemical marker of bone formation than at baseline, with the increase being greater in the tai chi group. The resistance training group but not the tai chi group also showed an increase in pyridinoline (PYD) which is released during bone reabsorption. The BAP/PYD ratio was increased over baseline in the tai chi group only. The tai chi group also showed a higher level of parathyroid hormone, which controls calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood, than the resistance training group. After the 12 weeks the tai chi group had a reduction in urinary calcium levels. These results suggest that tai chi is beneficial for increasing bone formation in the elderly.

Abstract

Tai chi beneficial for retarding bone loss in weight-bearing bones in postmenopausal women.

David Bendall — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:03:51 +0000

Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong randomly assigned 132 healthy early postmenopausal women to either 12 months of 45 minutes per day, 5 days per week supervised tai chi or no additional exercise. The rate of bone loss was less in the tai chi group than in the control group with the reduction especially significant in the distal tibia where there was a 2.6 to 3.6-fold retardation of bone loss. Over the course of the study, four fractures were documented, one in the tai chi group and three in the control group. The results suggest that tai chi is beneficial for retarding bone loss in postmenopausal women.

Abstract

Tai chi may retard bone loss in postmenopausal women

David Bendall — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:36:19 +0000

Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong compared bone mineral density in the spine and legs of 17 postmenopausal women who regularly practice tai chi to 17 age and gender matched controls who did not exercise. The women in the tai chi group had significantly higher bone mineral density than those in the control group. Bone mineral density in both groups was re-measured after 12 months. There was a decreased rate of bone loss in the tai chi group compared to the controls. The researchers conclude that tai chi may help retard bone loss in the weight-bearing bones of postmenopausal women.

Abstract