Chronic Osteoarthritis and Tai-Chi Exercise Observations 2000-2026: Strengths. Opportunities, Trends and Implications for Mitigating this Rapidly Growing Global Health Burden of Immense Pain and Functional Disability
Ray Marks
Osteoarthritis, a chronic health condition resulting in considerable disability, particularly in older adult populations, not only impacts life quality significantly and severely, but is also strongly associated with the persistence of intractable pain, depression, feelings of helplessness, and a high falls injury risk. This narrative overview synthesizes the knowledge base published over the last 25 years regarding what is known about Tai Chi – a mind-body form of exercise in the context of reducing lower limb osteoarthritis joint derived disability and its associated risk of incurring one or more injurious falls, as well as bone fractures, while fostering sedentary behaviors and chronic disease exacerbation, persistent pain and depression. To this end, while many reports are favourable, most rely on small group Eastern located observations, rather than Western medicine venues. Thus, while collectively showing Tai Chi may have an enormous positive impact on reducing distress and increasing function and autonomy among older adults living in the community and diagnosed as having painful lower limb osteoarthritis, more widespread study of other groups and cultures is indicated. In the interim, they specifically suggest the increasing numbers of these older adults expected to suffer in the future from osteoarthritis of the knee or hip or both can safely practice one or more forms of Tai Chi exercise with the expectation that consistent applications will enhance their mobility, reduce their pain and depression, plus gait and standing instability, and possible injurious falls, while reducing fatigue, even if surgery is indicated as well as forthcoming.
