Can Tai Chi help relieve chronic neck pain?

Tai Chi is a traditional form of exerise developed in ancient China which combines deep breathing and slow deliberate movements.  It has already proved helpful for back pain, rheumatism and psychological disorders, but can it help people with chronic neck pain?

A group of 114 people suffering from chronic neck pain performed either Tai Chi or did nothing at all for their neck pain for three months.  By the end of the period, those who did the Tai Chi reported significantly less pain and disability, plus overall improvement in their quality of life ompaired with those who did nothing.  Tai Chi is also as effective as standard exercises say researchers from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany.

This means for those people suffering from chronic neck pain there is evidence that Tai Chi help relieve chronic neck pain and is effective as standard exercises.

Reference

R Launche, C Stumpe, J Fehr, H Cramer et al (2016) The Effects of Tai Chi and Neck Exercises in the Treatment of Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Journal of Pain Vol 17, Issue 9, 1013-27

 

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