Chronic pain? Slow but sure taiji may be the way
Study finds it beats stretching exercises
BOSTON: The slow, flowing movements of taiji are better at relieving pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia than conventional stretching exercises, according to a study published on Thursday in the New England Journal Of Medicine.
A clinical trial at Tufts Medical Centre found that after 12 weeks of taiji, patients with fibro-myalgia, a chronic pain condition, did significantly better in measurements of pain, fatigue, physical functioning, sleeplessness and depression than a comparable group given stretching exercises and wellness education.
Taiji patients were also more likely to sustain improvement three months later, the report said.
'It's an impressive finding,' said Dr Daniel Solomon, chief of clinical research in rheumatology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who was not involved in the research.
Although the study was small - 66 patients - several experts considered it compelling because fibromyalgia is a complex and often-confusing condition, affecting five million Americans, mostly women, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Since its symptoms can be wide-ranging and can mimic other disorders, and its diagnosis depends largely on patients' descriptions, not blood tests or biopsies, its cause and treatment have been the subject of debate.
'We thought it was notable that the New England Journal accepted this paper, that they would take fibromyalgia on as an issue, and also because taiji is an alternative therapy that some people raise eyebrows about,' said Dr Robert Shmerling, clinical chief of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in Boston.
'Fibromyalgia is so common, and we have such a difficult time treating it effectively. It's defined by what the patient tells you,' he added.
'It's hard for some patients' families and their doctors to get their head around what it is and whether it's real. So, that these results were so positive for something that's very safe is an impressive accomplishment.'
Fibromyalgia is estimated to have affected nearly 200 million people worldwide.
Recent studies have suggested that taiji, with its slow exercises, breathing and meditation, could also benefit patients with other chronic conditions, including arthritis.
But not all of these reports have been conclusive, and taiji is hard to study because there are many styles and approaches.
The fibromyalgia study involved the yang style of taiji, taught by a Boston taiji master, Mr Ramel Rones. Dr Solomon and other experts cautioned that bigger studies with other masters and approaches were necessary.
Still, patients who received twice-weekly taiji classes and a DVD to practise with 20 minutes daily showed weekly improvement on an established measurement, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, improving more than the stretching-and-education group in physicians' assessments, sleep, walking and mental health.
One-third stopped using medication, compared with one-sixth in the stretching group.
Dr Chenchen Wang, a Tufts rheumatologist who led the study, said she attributed the results to the fact that 'fibromyalgia is a very complex problem' and 'taiji has multiple components - physical, psychological, social and spiritual'.
NEW YORK TIMES, REUTERS
Friday, August 20, 2010
Chronic pain? Slow but sure taiji may be the way Study finds it beats stretching exercises BOSTON: The slow, flowing movements of taiji are better at
Chronic pain? Slow but sure taiji may be the way
Study finds it beats stretching exercises
BOSTON: The slow, flowing movements of taiji are better at relieving pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia than conventional stretching exercises, according to a study published on Thursday in the New England Journal Of Medicine.
A clinical trial at Tufts Medical Centre found that after 12 weeks of taiji, patients with fibro-myalgia, a chronic pain condition, did significantly better in measurements of pain, fatigue, physical functioning, sleeplessness and depression than a comparable group given stretching exercises and wellness education.
Taiji patients were also more likely to sustain improvement three months later, the report said.
'It's an impressive finding,' said Dr Daniel Solomon, chief of clinical research in rheumatology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who was not involved in the research.
Although the study was small - 66 patients - several experts considered it compelling because fibromyalgia is a complex and often-confusing condition, affecting five million Americans, mostly women, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Since its symptoms can be wide-ranging and can mimic other disorders, and its diagnosis depends largely on patients' descriptions, not blood tests or biopsies, its cause and treatment have been the subject of debate.
'We thought it was notable that the New England Journal accepted this paper, that they would take fibromyalgia on as an issue, and also because taiji is an alternative therapy that some people raise eyebrows about,' said Dr Robert Shmerling, clinical chief of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in Boston.
'Fibromyalgia is so common, and we have such a difficult time treating it effectively. It's defined by what the patient tells you,' he added.
'It's hard for some patients' families and their doctors to get their head around what it is and whether it's real. So, that these results were so positive for something that's very safe is an impressive accomplishment.'
Fibromyalgia is estimated to have affected nearly 200 million people worldwide.
Recent studies have suggested that taiji, with its slow exercises, breathing and meditation, could also benefit patients with other chronic conditions, including arthritis.
But not all of these reports have been conclusive, and taiji is hard to study because there are many styles and approaches.
The fibromyalgia study involved the yang style of taiji, taught by a Boston taiji master, Mr Ramel Rones. Dr Solomon and other experts cautioned that bigger studies with other masters and approaches were necessary.
Still, patients who received twice-weekly taiji classes and a DVD to practise with 20 minutes daily showed weekly improvement on an established measurement, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, improving more than the stretching-and-education group in physicians' assessments, sleep, walking and mental health.
One-third stopped using medication, compared with one-sixth in the stretching group.
Dr Chenchen Wang, a Tufts rheumatologist who led the study, said she attributed the results to the fact that 'fibromyalgia is a very complex problem' and 'taiji has multiple components - physical, psychological, social and spiritual'.
NEW YORK TIMES, REUTERS
Study finds it beats stretching exercises
BOSTON: The slow, flowing movements of taiji are better at relieving pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia than conventional stretching exercises, according to a study published on Thursday in the New England Journal Of Medicine.
A clinical trial at Tufts Medical Centre found that after 12 weeks of taiji, patients with fibro-myalgia, a chronic pain condition, did significantly better in measurements of pain, fatigue, physical functioning, sleeplessness and depression than a comparable group given stretching exercises and wellness education.
Taiji patients were also more likely to sustain improvement three months later, the report said.
'It's an impressive finding,' said Dr Daniel Solomon, chief of clinical research in rheumatology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who was not involved in the research.
Although the study was small - 66 patients - several experts considered it compelling because fibromyalgia is a complex and often-confusing condition, affecting five million Americans, mostly women, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Since its symptoms can be wide-ranging and can mimic other disorders, and its diagnosis depends largely on patients' descriptions, not blood tests or biopsies, its cause and treatment have been the subject of debate.
'We thought it was notable that the New England Journal accepted this paper, that they would take fibromyalgia on as an issue, and also because taiji is an alternative therapy that some people raise eyebrows about,' said Dr Robert Shmerling, clinical chief of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in Boston.
'Fibromyalgia is so common, and we have such a difficult time treating it effectively. It's defined by what the patient tells you,' he added.
'It's hard for some patients' families and their doctors to get their head around what it is and whether it's real. So, that these results were so positive for something that's very safe is an impressive accomplishment.'
Fibromyalgia is estimated to have affected nearly 200 million people worldwide.
Recent studies have suggested that taiji, with its slow exercises, breathing and meditation, could also benefit patients with other chronic conditions, including arthritis.
But not all of these reports have been conclusive, and taiji is hard to study because there are many styles and approaches.
The fibromyalgia study involved the yang style of taiji, taught by a Boston taiji master, Mr Ramel Rones. Dr Solomon and other experts cautioned that bigger studies with other masters and approaches were necessary.
Still, patients who received twice-weekly taiji classes and a DVD to practise with 20 minutes daily showed weekly improvement on an established measurement, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, improving more than the stretching-and-education group in physicians' assessments, sleep, walking and mental health.
One-third stopped using medication, compared with one-sixth in the stretching group.
Dr Chenchen Wang, a Tufts rheumatologist who led the study, said she attributed the results to the fact that 'fibromyalgia is a very complex problem' and 'taiji has multiple components - physical, psychological, social and spiritual'.
NEW YORK TIMES, REUTERS
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