Health system announces arthritis program based on tai chi exercises
Friday, 7 October 2011
As a complementary treatment for the condition, the WPAHS is currently teaching people with arthritis to use tai chi exercises to their benefit.
If you have arthritis, then you are one of millions in the U.S. who suffer from often debilitating pain and joint immobility. As a complementary treatment for the condition, the West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS) is currently teaching people with arthritis to use tai chi exercises to their benefit.
The organization will offer two free classes to all comers, emphasizing the ways in which tai chi, meditation and energy healing techniques can reduce the discomfort caused by arthritis, according to the Upper St. Clair Patch.
The WPAHS's medical director and arthritis specialist, Fotios Koumpouras, expressed enthusiasm about tai chi's soothing effect on joints.
"Tai chi is an activity that improves balance, strength and coordination while teaching relaxation techniques," he told the news source. "This combination has proved to be very valuable to patients who experience stiffness and discomfort associated with arthritis."
With this in mind, individuals who have chronic joint problems may consider trying a low-impact tai chi routine.
How many people have arthritis? More than 50 million people have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout or similar joint conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
