Here is my most recent article for YMAA. Read the full article at: https://ymaa.com/articles/2024/05/tai-chi-and-qigong-arthritis-and-pain
by Dr. Peter Anthony Gryffin
June 3, 2024
Hypoxia, which is an oxygen deficiency in the tissues, underlies or complicates almost every health condition. This is the reason I have proposed the term Metarobic exercise to describe the effects of Tai Chi and related exercises on the body. At a recent meeting of leading Tai Chi and Qigong teachers and masters, the benefits of Tai Chi for arthritis through the power of Qi was a prominent discussion area. Tai Chi as a form of Qigong holds promise to help many medical conditions. Most who benefit from these practices do not care how or why – just that it works for them.
The answer given in the Tai Chi community for how these exercises benefit health is the power of Qi. There is so much to this two-letter word that entire books have been written on Qi, presenting and exploring its many dimensions. Zhang Yu Huan and Ken Rose present nice overview of the history and the range of meaning behind the concept of Qi, which includes 23 separate definitions of Qi.1 So how does this relate to Tai Chi for arthritis?
Arthritis—A Complex Disease
Many people assume that arthritis is an inevitable part of aging. But arthritis is a complex disease, which can affect children, teens and young adults as well. With over 100 types of arthritis, causes and treatment can vary.2 Hearing the many healing stories of Tai Chi and Qigong, many people have turned to these exercises in an attempt to reverse or better deal with arthritis symptoms.
Dr. Paul Lam is one of the most well-known, who turned to Tai Chi after developing disabling arthritis in his teens.3 He began studying Tai Chi with his father-in-law hoping to ease his painful arthritis and seeing the impact Tai Chi had on his condition, went on to develop a program for others suffering from arthritis and other conditions. Others have documented benefits for arthritis from a range of Tai Chi programs.4-6
The benefits for pain and inflammation are particularly notable. I have celiac neuropathy, symptoms of which typically include shooting pain, burning sensations, and numbness and tingling in the extremities. However, in my case, except for numbness in my feet and lower legs, I never experienced any of these symptoms. I feel that this is due to being a long-time Tai Chi and Qigong practitioner. And when I made certain adjustments to my practice based on my research, discussed below and in my book (Mindful Exercise: Metarobics, Healing, and the Power of Tai Chi, YMAA Publication Center), even the numbness cleared up. I have also been told by my physician that I have blood markers for rheumatoid arthritis but have never had any arthritis related symptoms...
For the full article, which includes research and suggestions for arthritis see: https://ymaa.com/articles/2024/05/tai-chi-and-qigong-arthritis-and-pain
by Dr. Peter Anthony Gryffin
June 3, 2024
Hypoxia, which is an oxygen deficiency in the tissues, underlies or complicates almost every health condition. This is the reason I have proposed the term Metarobic exercise to describe the effects of Tai Chi and related exercises on the body. At a recent meeting of leading Tai Chi and Qigong teachers and masters, the benefits of Tai Chi for arthritis through the power of Qi was a prominent discussion area. Tai Chi as a form of Qigong holds promise to help many medical conditions. Most who benefit from these practices do not care how or why – just that it works for them.
The answer given in the Tai Chi community for how these exercises benefit health is the power of Qi. There is so much to this two-letter word that entire books have been written on Qi, presenting and exploring its many dimensions. Zhang Yu Huan and Ken Rose present nice overview of the history and the range of meaning behind the concept of Qi, which includes 23 separate definitions of Qi.1 So how does this relate to Tai Chi for arthritis?
Arthritis—A Complex Disease
Many people assume that arthritis is an inevitable part of aging. But arthritis is a complex disease, which can affect children, teens and young adults as well. With over 100 types of arthritis, causes and treatment can vary.2 Hearing the many healing stories of Tai Chi and Qigong, many people have turned to these exercises in an attempt to reverse or better deal with arthritis symptoms.
Dr. Paul Lam is one of the most well-known, who turned to Tai Chi after developing disabling arthritis in his teens.3 He began studying Tai Chi with his father-in-law hoping to ease his painful arthritis and seeing the impact Tai Chi had on his condition, went on to develop a program for others suffering from arthritis and other conditions. Others have documented benefits for arthritis from a range of Tai Chi programs.4-6
The benefits for pain and inflammation are particularly notable. I have celiac neuropathy, symptoms of which typically include shooting pain, burning sensations, and numbness and tingling in the extremities. However, in my case, except for numbness in my feet and lower legs, I never experienced any of these symptoms. I feel that this is due to being a long-time Tai Chi and Qigong practitioner. And when I made certain adjustments to my practice based on my research, discussed below and in my book (Mindful Exercise: Metarobics, Healing, and the Power of Tai Chi, YMAA Publication Center), even the numbness cleared up. I have also been told by my physician that I have blood markers for rheumatoid arthritis but have never had any arthritis related symptoms...
For the full article, which includes research and suggestions for arthritis see: https://ymaa.com/articles/2024/05/tai-chi-and-qigong-arthritis-and-pain
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