Tai chi for osteoarthritis: a systematic review.

One treatment option for osteoarthritis (OA) that many people would never even think to consider is Tai Chi. Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial arts form of meditation with a constant flow of energy and movement. A recent meta-analysis compared the results of various randomized controlled trials on Tai Chi for OA. Over all, some of the studies have found positive results on pain reduction and physical function. There also have been some conflicting results on its efficacy for oa. However, since Tai Chi may have many other potential benfits and poses no serious risk, it may be an option for people with OA to consider. It's estimated that over 200 million people practice Tai Chi everyday. *Please refer to disclaimer text.

"Two RCTs suggested significant pain reduction on visual analog scale or Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) compared to routine treatment and an attention control program in knee OA." (Lee et al, 2007)

"In conclusion, there is some encouraging evidence suggesting that tai chi may be effective for pain control in patients with knee OA. However, the evidence is not convincing for pain reduction or improvement of physical function. Future RCTs should assess larger patient samples for longer treatment periods and use appropriate controls" (Lee et al, 2007).



Lee MS, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Tai chi for osteoarthritis: a systematic review.Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Sep 14;