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Fibromyalgia sufferers may find relief from the chronic pain condition by doing tai chi, new research finds.
Researchers divided 66 people with fibromyalgia into two groups: one group did hour-long sessions of tai chi twice a week for 12 weeks; the other had a twice-weekly wellness education class followed by gentle stretching.
The study
At the end of 12 weeks, the tai chi group reported improvements in their scores on questionnaires regarding both physical and mental fibromyalgia symptoms. That included decreased pain and increased ability to do daily tasks without pain; less fatigue, depression and anxiety; and an overall better quality of life. Patients also reported better sleep quality and improved physical conditioning.
The improvements were still evident at 24 weeks, according to the research reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The findings
"It was incredible," said lead study author Dr Chenchen Wang, an associate professor of medicine in the rheumatology department at Tufts Medical Centre in Boston. "You could see them change every week. They became very happy. I felt very, very excited to be with them."
Fibromyalgia is characterised by widespread pain, fatigue, insomnia and multiple tender points. The syndrome can also cause psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, and memory and concentration problems, sometimes called the "fibromyalgia fog."
About 10 million Americans have fibromyalgia, and about 75 to 90% of them are women, according to estimates from the National Fibromyalgia Association.
Doctors will often suggest exercise, sleep hygiene techniques and medications to treat the condition, but often with limited success, said Dr Gloria Yeh, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, who wrote an accompanying editorial in the journal.
Tai chi looks 'promising'
Most patients, according to background information in the article, remain in pain years after the diagnosis, are aerobically unfit, have poor muscle strength and flexibility, and need medications to control symptoms.
While larger studies are needed to confirm the findings, tai chi looks promising as an alternative treatment, Yeh said.
"This could represent an ideal exercise for fibromyalgia sufferers. Since it is a low-impact, gentle, non-threatening, accessible activity, it may be a perfect exercise for debilitated patients with fibromyalgia who otherwise cannot or choose not to do other forms of exercise," Yeh said. "Also, since tai chi has a meditative component, it may also help to address the stress and anxiety that may be associated with the condition."
So what is it about tai chi that works?
There's no definitive answer to that just yet, Wang said. Tai chi is a mind-body exercise that originated as a martial art in China, utilising slow, gentle movements to build strength and flexibility, as well as deep breathing and relaxation, to move qi, or vital energy, throughout the body.
Prior research has shown exercise can improve mood, Wang added. The controlled breathing and movements may promote "mental tranquility," according to the study, which could help with pain.
"The physical component of tai chi can improve aerobic capacity, strength and muscle function," Wang said. "But in my opinion, the most important part is mental. You see lots of patients improve their depression and become good friends with each other."
The National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the U.S. National Institutes of Health provided funding for the research. (August 2010)
(Copyright © 2010 HealthDay. All rights reserved.)
