tai chi pain relief Archives - Minnesota Physical Medicine Blog

New research published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings suggests that activities like yoga, Tai Chi and other complementary health approaches may help alleviate discomfort associated with some types of chronic pain.

Lead author Richard L. Nahin, Ph.D., of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), suggested that activity options like Tai Chi and yoga may help prevent symptoms from chronic pain, especially when paired with other treatment options like regular exercise, a healthy diet and certain pain medications.

“For many Americans who suffer from chronic pain, medications may not completely relieve pain and can produce unwanted side effects,” said Nahin. “As a result, many people may turn to non-drug approaches to help manage their pain.”

Chronic Pain, Yoga and Tai Chi

For their study, researchers identified 150 randomized, controlled U.S. clinical trials conducted over the past 50 years that examined non-drug approaches to chronic pain. Specifically, the research targeted five common sources of pain, which were:

Chronic back pain
Osteoarthritis
Neck pain
Fibromyalgia
Severe headaches and migraines

The treatment techniques analyzed were considered effective if patients reported that it led to improvements in pain severity and pain-related disability/function. After looking at the data, researchers found that both yoga and acupuncture were safe and effective for chronic back pain, while Tai Chi and acupuncture may be most beneficial for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Massage therapy was also somewhat beneficial for patients suffering from neck pain when it was managed with one-hour sessions 2-3 times per week.

“These data can equip providers and patients with the information they need to have informed conversations regarding nondrug approaches for treatment of specific pain conditions,” said David Shurtleff, Ph.D., deputy director of NCCIH. “It’s important that continued research explores how these approaches actually work and whether these findings apply broadly in diverse clinical settings and patient populations.”

At the end of the day, the study paints an interesting picture at some non-drug techniques that can be used in conjunction with other lifestyle interventions to provide relief. Simply getting massages or doing some yoga isn’t going to fully rid you of your pain, but it can play an important role in a total pain management plan. There is no magic pill to cure many of the above conditions, but with a multifaceted approach that involves treatment with a physical medicine pain specialist, relief can be found.

Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that people who suffer from chronic pain may find relief by practicing Tai Chi.

Medical researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 34 studies involving nearly 1,600 patients to better understand Tai Chi’s effectiveness in treating chronic health conditions, like pain, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoarthritis and some cancers. Participants ranged in age from their mid-50s to early 70s, and they took part in 2-3 Tai Chi sessions each week over the course of 12 weeks.

After looking at the results, researchers concluded:

Participants in the Tai Chi group exhibited improved physical capacity, muscle strength, walking ability, bending and flexing range and ability to go from a seated to a standing position.

In patients with COPD, breathlessness was reduced for those in the Tai Chi group.

Patients with osteoarthritis who took part in Tai Chi saw improvements in pain and stiffness.

“The results demonstrated a favorable effect or tendency of Tai Chi to improve physical performance and showed that this type of exercise could be performed by individuals with different chronic conditions,” researchers said.

Tai Chi and Pain

Tai Chi helps relieve pain and stress through choreographed movements that build muscle and improve balance and posture. The exercise technique also works to relax the individual through patterned breathing techniques.

The results of the study fall in line with previous research on the benefits of Tai Chi. The earlier study suggested preforming Tai Chi over the course of just 8 weeks can reduce fibromyalgia symptoms. Researchers also concluded that it can improve sleep quality and physical function while reducing anxiety and fatigue.

So if you’re suffering from chronic pain, back soreness or just seem overly anxious, give Tai Chi a try. We’ve already discussed the benefits of exercise at great lengths on the blog, but relaxed, coordinated movements can produce similar results. For more information about Tai Chi, or to check out some exercises for beginners, click here.