I f you have rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, tai chi exercises are a great way to stay physically active while improving mobility and balance. Find out why tai chi is so beneficial and try movements specially selected for people with RA...
During a flare-up of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, pain and fatigue make exercise the last thing you want to do.
But one workout – a traditional Chinese practice called tai chi – is gentle enough to do even with aching, swollen joints, says Daniel Arkfeld, MD, associate professor of clinical medicine and director of rheumatology education at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Tai chi is a safe way to stretch and strengthen muscles and de-stress your mind, Dr. Arkfeld says. And the slow, gentle movements are so easy on the body that most rheumatoid arthritis patients can practice them, he notes.
“Patients are able to participate even with advanced cases of the disease,” he says.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients who did tai chi exercises for at least eight to 10 weeks felt significant improvement in their range of motion, especially in the hips, knees and ankle joints, according to a 2010 research analysis by the Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews, a nonprofit British scientific organization. They also had a 35% lower risk of falls than those who didn’t do the exercises.
Tai chi also improved mood and reduced depression, the studies found.
Original article and pictures take images.lifescript.com site
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