Chiropractic Treatment and Tai Chi Practice Can Eliminate Knee Pain
November 4th, 2009 | by admin |
Knee X-ray
Research done by Tufts University School of Medicine had concluded that men and women that are at least 65 years of age or older who’ve been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (OA), and who practice Tai Chi, increased their physical function and encountered 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 suffer with 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 astounding 4.3 million individuals in the U.S. over 60 years of age have been diagnosed with knee OA, according to the CDC, and it conjectures that by age 85, half of American adults may incur symptoms of OA. Knee OA causes pain, immobility, functional disabilities, and a decreased quality of life.
Why do so many men and women develop OA? As with nearly all of the musculoskeletal dysfunctions that we develop as we age, abnormal stress to a joint over time is a major element. It follows that as people age they are more susceptible to developing OA in their joints, including the knees. Abnormal mechanics of the knee, poor gait, compensatory foot mechanics as an offset of foot pain, and overload of the knee joint all create inordinate stress on the knees. Over time arthritic changes in the knee joint take place. In addition to chiropractic therapies, chiropractors enthusiastically advocate natural, drug-free practices, such as Tai Chi (Chuan), that can help to reduce knee pain. A traditional style of Chinese martial arts,Tai Chi features slow, rhythmic movements that produce mental relaxation, as well as increased balance, an augmentation of strength, and more flexibility.
In otherwise good health, the 40 men and women with confirmed OA that were picked for the Tufts study were on an average 65 years of age and overweight. Patients were randomly picked to take part 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 includes many of the contemporary exercise suggestions for OA, such as range of motion, flexibility, muscle conditioning, and aerobic workout. Furthermore, researchers found 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 displayed a substantial 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.