Like many other chronic conditions (including heart, lung and kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, compromised immunity, asthma and many other conditions), arthritis is also aggravated by hypoxia (oxygen deficiency reaching the tissues). Metarobic theory and research supports that one of the primary factors in the benefits of Tai Chi for arthritis is effects on hypoxia. This also includes benefits of other breath-focused relaxation exercises, including forms of Yoga and Qigong. One of the hallmarks of rheumatoid arthritis is the development of new capillary blood vessels (or angiogenesis) in the joints. Research suggests that this may be a result of increased hypoxia (oxygen deficiency). Dr. Konisti and colleagues, with the Charing Cross Hospital in London, reported new research which indicates that inadequate oxygenation (hypoxia) results in an increase in synovial angiogenesis, which promotes inflammatory cells. Another review conducted by Drs. Taylor and Sivakumar, with the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, noted that despite new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), dysfunctional vascular networks do not restore tissue oxygen, resulting in hypoxia.
From a Metarobic perspective, all of the case stories reporting significant benefits for various forms of arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis) may be due to effects on reversing hypoxia, which may affect and reduce (or eliminate) formation of excessive blood vessels and synovial angiogenesis. This would explain the reversal of arthritis in the case stories presented on the Metarobic Facebook Page. Further research would need to establish this link, but from a theoretical perspective, it would explain the large number of people reporting benefits from Tai Chi and related exercises (including people confined to a wheel chair, who regained the ability to walk – see the Metarobics Facebook Page). Last week I posted Tai Chi studies which reported significant benefits for those with arthritis. Following are some studies related to Qigong.
Drs. Chen and Liu, with the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey, and the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, conducted a review of 11 studies which used Qigong for arthritis. The authors note that from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, arthritis is caused by blocked Qi flow. This makes sense, since the literal translation of Qi is “air” or “oxygen.” The doctors note that Qigong practitioners have more efficient oxygen based metabolism and a slower heart rate than non-practitioners, which supports Metarobic theory. The authors note one particularly large study in which Qigong therapy was provided to 295 rheumatoid arthritis patients who had not responded to conventional treatment (drugs). Participants practiced standing Qigong every day, and also underwent acupuncture treatment for 10 days. Two months later 192 patients reported complete recovery from all arthritis symptoms (pain, impaired joint function, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and rheumatoid blood factor). They were still symptom free at the sixth month follow-up. Eighty three patients experienced significant improvement in symptoms (no pain, but joint function was still slightly limited and ESR was still elevated). Fourteen patients reported some benefits for pain relief and movement. The authors also cited other studies with smaller numbers of patients, which supported these benefits. Metarobic theory presents an evidence based explanation of benefits. It can be hoped that with time and further research, Metarobic exercises can be maximized to result in a 100% cure rate for arthritis and other conditions. Dosage may be a key factor, and it would need to be addressed if the 192 patients who reported total elimination of arthritis symptoms were more diligent in their practice.
My next blog will present a review of 11 studies which used Yoga as the primary form of treatment. Many forms of Yoga are similar to breath and relaxation-focused forms of Qigong, either holding poses in a relaxed state while focusing on the breath, or moving gently through a range of postures, while focused on the breath and relaxation. These formats contrast to forms of Qigong and Yoga which focus on strength and flexibility, or sometimes other more esoteric aspects.
Primary References
Chen KW, Liu T. Effects of Qigong Therapy on Arthritis: A Review and Report of a Pilot Trial. Medical Paradigm. 2004: 1(1): 1-14
Konisti S, Kiriakidis S, Paleolog EM. Hypoxia--a key regulator of angiogenesis and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2012 Jan 31;8(3):153-62. doi: 10.1038/nrrheum.2011.205.
Taylor PC, Sivakumar B. Hypoxia and angiogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2005 May;17(3):293-8.
From a Metarobic perspective, all of the case stories reporting significant benefits for various forms of arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis) may be due to effects on reversing hypoxia, which may affect and reduce (or eliminate) formation of excessive blood vessels and synovial angiogenesis. This would explain the reversal of arthritis in the case stories presented on the Metarobic Facebook Page. Further research would need to establish this link, but from a theoretical perspective, it would explain the large number of people reporting benefits from Tai Chi and related exercises (including people confined to a wheel chair, who regained the ability to walk – see the Metarobics Facebook Page). Last week I posted Tai Chi studies which reported significant benefits for those with arthritis. Following are some studies related to Qigong.
Drs. Chen and Liu, with the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey, and the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, conducted a review of 11 studies which used Qigong for arthritis. The authors note that from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, arthritis is caused by blocked Qi flow. This makes sense, since the literal translation of Qi is “air” or “oxygen.” The doctors note that Qigong practitioners have more efficient oxygen based metabolism and a slower heart rate than non-practitioners, which supports Metarobic theory. The authors note one particularly large study in which Qigong therapy was provided to 295 rheumatoid arthritis patients who had not responded to conventional treatment (drugs). Participants practiced standing Qigong every day, and also underwent acupuncture treatment for 10 days. Two months later 192 patients reported complete recovery from all arthritis symptoms (pain, impaired joint function, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and rheumatoid blood factor). They were still symptom free at the sixth month follow-up. Eighty three patients experienced significant improvement in symptoms (no pain, but joint function was still slightly limited and ESR was still elevated). Fourteen patients reported some benefits for pain relief and movement. The authors also cited other studies with smaller numbers of patients, which supported these benefits. Metarobic theory presents an evidence based explanation of benefits. It can be hoped that with time and further research, Metarobic exercises can be maximized to result in a 100% cure rate for arthritis and other conditions. Dosage may be a key factor, and it would need to be addressed if the 192 patients who reported total elimination of arthritis symptoms were more diligent in their practice.
My next blog will present a review of 11 studies which used Yoga as the primary form of treatment. Many forms of Yoga are similar to breath and relaxation-focused forms of Qigong, either holding poses in a relaxed state while focusing on the breath, or moving gently through a range of postures, while focused on the breath and relaxation. These formats contrast to forms of Qigong and Yoga which focus on strength and flexibility, or sometimes other more esoteric aspects.
Primary References
Chen KW, Liu T. Effects of Qigong Therapy on Arthritis: A Review and Report of a Pilot Trial. Medical Paradigm. 2004: 1(1): 1-14
Konisti S, Kiriakidis S, Paleolog EM. Hypoxia--a key regulator of angiogenesis and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2012 Jan 31;8(3):153-62. doi: 10.1038/nrrheum.2011.205.
Taylor PC, Sivakumar B. Hypoxia and angiogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2005 May;17(3):293-8.
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