Tai Chi as Effective as Neck Exercises

A new study of 114 individuals is showing that Tai Chi can be as effective as neck exercises in relieving persistent neck pain. The study was a randomized controlled trial reported in The Journal of Pain, the peer-reviewed publication of the American Pain Society.

Peter M. Wayne, Ph.D. is associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. A co-author on the study, Dr. Wayne told OTW, “Our results support that Tai Chi is equally effective as traditional neck physical therapy exercises in reducing pain and disability, and improving quality of life, in patients with non-specific chronic neck pain. Consequently, Tai Chi should be considered as a safe and alternative or complementary therapy to physical therapy for neck pain.”

“While prior randomized trials have clearly established that Tai Chi is effective at preventing falls in the elderly, less research has evaluated its impact on chronic pain. Along with a recent study showing benefits of for knee OA [osteoarthritis] (Annals of Internal Medicine, Wang et al.), this study supports benefits for musculoskeletal health.”

“Because Tai Chi can be offered in group settings, future studies should also explore its cost-effectiveness, relative to standard physical therapy.”