Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most frequent causes of pain, loss of function, and disability in adults in Western countries, occurring in the majority of people over 65 years of age and in roughly 80% of those over 75 years of age. No cure is currently available for OA and treatment options include primarily pharmacological or surgical treatment.

Taking into account the increasing prevalence of OA and associated disability, social, and economic costs, the American College of Rheumatology has developed guidelines for non-pharmacological therapy including exercise, education, physical therapy, at relatively low costs for OA sufferers. However, despite the potential benefits of exercise, very few OA patients participate in regular physical activity. The primary goals in the management of OA are currently to alleviate arthritic symptoms, including pain and stiffness, maintain or improve joint mobility and quality of life, increase muscle strength, and minimize the disabling effects of OA. 

A computerized search of PubMed and Embase (up to Sept 2012) was performed to identify relevant studies. The outcome measures were pain, stiffness, and physical function. Two investigators identified eligible studies and extracted data independently. The quality of the included studies was assessed by the Jadad score. Standard mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and pooled using a random effects model. The change in outcomes from baseline was compared to the minimum clinically important difference. 

A total of seven randomized controlled trials involving 348 patients with osteoarthritis met the inclusion criteria. The mean Jadad score was 3.6. The pooled SMD was -0.45 (95% CI -0.70--0.20, P = 0.0005) for pain, -0.31 (95% CI -0.60--0.02, P = 0.04) for stiffness, and -0.61 (95% CI -0.85--0.37, P<0.00001) for physical function. A change of 32.2-36.4% in the outcomes was greater than the minimum clinically important difference. 

Twelve-week Tai Chi is beneficial for improving arthritic symptoms and physical function in patients with osteoarthritis and should be included in rehabilitation programs. However, the evidence may be limited by potential biases; thus, larger scale randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the current findings and investigate the long-term effects of Tai Chi. 

Results like these don't just come from waving your arms around and zoning out in the park for 10 minutes a day 

 

If you want to be healthy & strong again, there's work you have to do, and skills you have to learn. 

 

But it doesn't have to be hard, either. 

 

We've put together a guide you can follow, and in just a few weeks you'll see undeniable results!