Arthritis Solution: Tai Chi Chuan

Tai chi helps arthritis patient

07/11/2008 05:00 AM
By: Marcie Fraser

You may have seen them in a class or taken a class yourself, tai chi an ancient form of Chinese martial arts. Often used for meditation is now used for, medication.

Her name is Lee Shaw; she’s been inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame.

“When I was five I used to stand there and say, I want to do that,” Shaw said.

Her music fills the room, the notes transcend from her fingers. They move smoothly from key to key, a lifelong passion for music that almost came to an end.

“I damaged the cartilage in my thumb and because the body abhors a vacuum, it sent calcium to fill it up.”There was one period of time when I didn’t think I was going to be able to play again,” Shaw said.

She developed a degenerative disease called osteo-arthritis.

“Typically osteo-arthritis develops as a wear and tear process in various joints. There are some joints that are affected more often than others. For instance, the fingers, the neck, the low back, the hips and the knees,” said Dr. Chris Huyck.

 

 

 

Tai chi helps arthritis patient

You may have seen them in a class or taken a class yourself, tai chi an ancient form of Chinese martial arts. Often used for meditation is now used for, medication.

Symptoms include low grade pain with activity and stiffness. Some folks looking for relief find it with tai chi

“It’s systematically designed to help people with arthritis because the steps are in higher stance than in traditional tai chi, which is an ancient Chinese martial arts form. It’s very fluid, the movements are very circular in motion and they flow one right into the other, ” said Jane Perkins-Huyck, instructor.

“Tai chi is very effective because it is extremely well controlled. The movements are slow, it emphasizes balance and appropriate breathing and it allows patients to use their muscles and tone their muscles without hurting them or harming them, “said Doctor Hucyk.

After a warm up, there are six basic movements. The consistent weight transfer and meditation help the body relax, allowing the muscles to stretch, improving the range of motion.

There is no cure. It affects more women than men. Treatment includes tai chi, certain medications and lifestyle changes.

Shaw found relief, both mentally and physically.

Tai chi daily practice

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