Tai Chi Aids Pain and Gives Arthritis Relief

REDUCES RISK OF FALLING As it happens, recent research sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and the National Center for Nursing Research indicates that Tai Chi can significantly reduce the risk of falling in people over 70 years old. The 1996 study, performed at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, compared various exercise methods for fall prevention in the elderly. As reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (vol. 273, no. 17), the study found "significant decreases" in the risk of falling for the group who practiced Tai Chi. What's more, this decreased risk seems to have lasted four months after the group stopped doing Tai Chi.

If arthritis patients find Tai Chi painful, they should not give up, says Arthritis Foundation medical advisor Maureen McSweeney, Ph.D., of the University Pain Center in New York, NY. "This means that they need to tailor the movements to accommodate any sensitive areas. They need to listen to their bodies and avoid straining themselves," she explains. "They must experiment with different versions of the movement until they approximate it as closely as possible."

TAI CHI IN YOUR AREA To find a good Tai Chi teacher, try contacting local branches of the Arthritis Foundation or your senior center, community center or YMCA or YWCA. Also check the Yellow Pages under the headings Martial Arts or Karate for Tai Chi schools. Alternative weekly newspapers may also list Tai Chi classes on offer. Ask to watch a class before you sign up and pay any advance fees.

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