The following article appeared in the New York Times on August 18, 2010. It describes how the practice of a Chinese internal martial art, Tai Qi Quan can help to ease the pain associated with fibromyalgia.
www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/health/19taichi.html
For those without a Times subscription, I offer the following summary:
A study published by The New England Journal of Medicine concluded that the practice of Tai Qi Quan may be effective as a therapy for fibromyalgia.
"A clinical trial at Tufts Medical Center found that after 12 weeks of tai chi, patients with fibromyalgia, 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. Tai chi patients were also more likely to sustain improvement three months later."
“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. “This was a well-done study. It was kind of amazing that the effects seem to carry over.”
It's been nearly 12 years since the publication of this article, and as the practice of ancient Chinese arts has move into the mainstream, the doubts that people have had about "alternative therapies" have probably eased.
An article from the NIH in 2018 reports a trial that concluded that the practice of Tai Qi Quan had similar benefits, and compared favorably with aerobic exercise:
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/research/research-results/tai-chi-has-similar-or-greater-benefits-than-aerobic-exercise-for-fibromyalgia-study-shows#:~:text=This%20study%20showed%20that%20tai,classes%20than%20aerobic%20exercise%20sessions.
Nei Gong and Qi Gong sets that are similar Tai Qi Quan can provide the same benefits with respect to fibromyalgia. Gentle bodywork, acupuncture, and Chinese herbs can also help, as will some sort regular exercise, especially walking.
www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/health/19taichi.html
For those without a Times subscription, I offer the following summary:
A study published by The New England Journal of Medicine concluded that the practice of Tai Qi Quan may be effective as a therapy for fibromyalgia.
"A clinical trial at Tufts Medical Center found that after 12 weeks of tai chi, patients with fibromyalgia, 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. Tai chi patients were also more likely to sustain improvement three months later."
“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. “This was a well-done study. It was kind of amazing that the effects seem to carry over.”
It's been nearly 12 years since the publication of this article, and as the practice of ancient Chinese arts has move into the mainstream, the doubts that people have had about "alternative therapies" have probably eased.
An article from the NIH in 2018 reports a trial that concluded that the practice of Tai Qi Quan had similar benefits, and compared favorably with aerobic exercise:
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/research/research-results/tai-chi-has-similar-or-greater-benefits-than-aerobic-exercise-for-fibromyalgia-study-shows#:~:text=This%20study%20showed%20that%20tai,classes%20than%20aerobic%20exercise%20sessions.
Nei Gong and Qi Gong sets that are similar Tai Qi Quan can provide the same benefits with respect to fibromyalgia. Gentle bodywork, acupuncture, and Chinese herbs can also help, as will some sort regular exercise, especially walking.
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