Tai chi improves fibromyalgia better than aerobic exercise

Research has found that tai chi is a better way to improve the condition of people with fibromyalgia than aerobic exercise. The study, which was published in the BMJ, examined the effectiveness of tai chi interventions compared with aerobic exercise in the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia.

• For the study, researchers from Tufts University in the U.S. recruited 226 adults with fibromyalgia.
• The researchers assigned 151 participants to one of four classic Yang style-supervised tai chi interventions conducted once or twice every week for 12 or 24 weeks. The 75 other participants were assigned to supervised aerobic exercise twice a week for 24 weeks.
• The participants also completed a fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQR) after the interventions.
• The results revealed that all interventions caused improvement in fibromyalgia.
• However, the combined tai chi groups caused more improvements than aerobic exercise.
• Participants who performed tai chi experienced greater benefit than those who performed aerobic exercises in the same intensity and duration.
• Those who performed tai chi for 24 weeks demonstrated greater improvements than those who performed it for 12 weeks.
• Participants also attended the tai chi training sessions more frequently than participants attended aerobic exercise.
• The interventions did not cause any side effects.

The findings of the study suggest that tai chi is better for managing fibromyalgia and that a longer duration of tai chi results in greater benefits.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

To read more stories on tai chi and other mind-body interventions, visit MindBodyScience.news today.

Journal Reference:

Wang C, Schmid CH, Fielding RA, Harvey WF, Reid KF, Price LL, Driban JB, Kalish R, Rones R, McAlindon T. EFFECT OF TAI CHI VERSUS AEROBIC EXERCISE FOR FIBROMYALGIA: COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL. BMJ. 21 March 2018; 360. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.k851