Tai Chi Exercises For Fibromyalgia

People with fibromyalgia may experience physical discomforts, including joint and muscle pain, as well as insomnia, fatigue and depression. Because of this mix of problems, people with fibromyalgia must often adopt a holistic approach to managing their condition. Tai chi may be a good addition to a fibromyalgia self-care regimen.

The Facts

Fibromyalgia affects as many as five million Americans, according to "The New York Times," but because it's a complicated condition with a broad range of symptoms that can mimic other ailments, it's not always easy to diagnose or treat. Tai chi, a form of Chinese martial art, emphasizes slow, deliberate movements.

Significance

Fibromyalgia can be notoriously difficult to treat because symptoms can vary significantly from person to person, explains Robert Shmerling, clinical chief of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, in "The New York Times." Because tai chi is non-invasive and unlikely to create unpleasant side effects, it may be a very promising part of treatment for people with fibromyalgia, says Shmerling. Tai chi may be so beneficial for fibromyalgia because its mind-body focus meshes well with the mental and physical symptoms of the condition.

Benefits

People with fibromyalgia who practiced 60-minute tai chi exercises twice a week reported significant improvement in pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, physical functioning and general well-being on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, or FIQ, a fibromyalgia assessment questionnaire, and 35-percent of tai chi participants were able to function without pain medication, according to a clinical trial at Tufts Medical Center published in "The New England Journal of Medicine" in August 2010.

Considerations

There are several different types of tai chi, but the gentle movements of the Yang style may be the most beneficial for people living with fibromyalgia, says Chenchen Wang, a Tufts rheumatologist who led the fibromyalgia study published in "The New England Journal of Medicine" and used Yang style tai chi with the study participants. If you're too self-conscious to try a class, consider using a DVD to test the tai chi waters.

Warning

Though the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine says in "U.S. News and World Report" that tai chi is usually safe, it's always wise to check with your health care provider before starting any new exercise regimen, especially if you have an existing health condition like fibromyalgia. It's also a good idea to let your tai chi instructor know that you have fibromyalgia so that he can help accommodate your condition if necessary.