About This Column
Here you'll find advice on how to take a more comprehensive approach toward managing your rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Keep in mind, this column is intended to advise you on how to complement your treatment, not replace it. Please consult your doctor to determine what advice may be right for you.
Featured Article
Yin, Yang, & Your RA
Sep 24, 2008
You may think I'm crazy for writing this, but a certain type of martial art can actually help improve the way you live with RA (key phrase: a certain type). By no means am I recommending that you run out and join the nearest karate dojo. In fact, the type of martial art that I have in mind has nothing to do with breaking bricks. It involves much gentler, more relaxed techniques, and it's the topic of this week's article: tai chi (pronounced “tie chee”).
Tai chi was developed in 13th-century China to help restore the body's flow of vital energy (called chi) and the balance of 2 opposing forces (yin and yang). Today, it is thought to have numerous benefits—improved balance, flexibility, and coordination to name a few. And recent reports suggest that improved range of motion may be a welcome addition to that list, particularly for people living with RA. According to these reports, people with RA who practiced tai chi (vs other types of exercise) experienced:
A significant improvement in their range of motion, particularly in leg and ankle joints
Higher levels of participation in and enjoyment of other forms of exercise. (If you've read past articles, you know how much I've stressed the importance of regular exercise)
As with any other form of exercise, strains, sprains, and other forms of injury are always a possibility. But doing some simple stretches beforehand should all but eliminate the risk.
Start here
If you're interested in taking some tai chi for a test run, talk with your rheumatologist about what types of techniques may be appropriate for you. Then contact your local Arthritis Foundation (AF) chapter and enroll in one of their Tai Chi for Arthritis programs. It's much safer to learn face-to-face from an AF-certified instructor than from a DVD or a book. It's also more fun to interact with a class filled with people who are just like you.
Managing Pain and Stress
