The following article by respected Dr. Andrew Weil gives his objective view on Tai Chi Practice for Knee issues. I will add a properly trained teacher in Therapeutic style Tai Chi would be the takeaway here for giving it a try. If you are local in Michigan the Tai Chi ~ Chi Flow practice, is perfect for anyone and comes from years of research and application since the 1970's. If interesting contacted me ~ Gary W. Abersold taozahnchi@gmail.com
Practicing tai chi could be as effective as physical therapy to relieve arthritic knee pain. A new study also found that tai chi offered an additional benefit: it significantly eased depression among seniors experiencing pain, swelling, tenderness and stiffness caused by knee arthritis.
Researchers at Boston's Tufts Medical Center recruited 200 people whose average age was 60. Most were overweight or obese - both risk factors for knee arthritis - and had been dealing with the condition for an average of 8 years. The study participants were assigned to practice either tai chi with a trained instructor twice a week for 12 weeks or undergo physical therapy twice a week for six weeks, followed by another six weeks of monitored home exercise. After 12 weeks, all the participants responded to a questionnaire designed to assess their pain, stiffness and joint functioning. Both groups had similar and significant improvements, which the researchers reported lasted up to a year.
My take? Tai chi is an effective form of mental and physical stimulation. It is an ideal practice for overall health and especially beneficial for those with osteoarthritis, as this new study shows. Like yoga, tai chi is a reliable method of reducing stress and promoting relaxation, and it fosters flexibility, balance, and body awareness. It is also pleasing to watch and perform, and may be particularly helpful for seniors, because it reduces risk of injury from falls.
