Tai Chi and Cancer

Tai Chi There have been plenty of studies about the benefits of the wonderful art of Tai Chi. One important one examined the effect of Tai Chi on four chronic conditions -- cancer, osteoarthritis, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This study was conducted by Yi-Wen Chen, Michael A Hunt, Kristin L. Campbell, Kortni Peill, W Darlene Reid and it was published in 2015 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.[footnoteRef:1] [1: Yi-Wen Chen et al.

"The effect of Tai Chi on four chronic conditions -- cancer, osteoarthritis, heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analyses." British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 6, no. 8 (2015): e0112987. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2014-094388] Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice that focuses on the harmony of the Yin and Yang; as such, it is a martial art that showcases meditative and slow movements to calm the nervous system and to help individuals cultivate Qi (energy).

This cultivation enables the body to relax and is conducive to moderating stress and attendant symptoms that result from stress build-up. In this wonderful study it is described how the meta-analyses showed improvement on the physical performance outcomes on middle aged and older persons who where suffering from these chronic diseases and who began practicing Tai Chi.

The results from this study indicated that there are very positive effects of Tai Chi associated with chronic disease patients; one of the major findings of the study was that Tai Chi can help to improve the well being and physical performance of patients with different chronic conditions. Patients were asked to practice Tai Chi 2 times a week.

There were many different studies that were being reviewed, but some that caught my attention where studies on the effect of Tai Chi on the patients' Quality of Life and feelings of Depression.

The meta-analyses on each chronic condition showed a significant effect of Tai Chi in OA studies on their Quality of Life: "OA studies (SMD=0.38; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.75; p=0.05), and an improving trend for COPD and HF studies (p=0.08; p=0.18, respectively), whereas the cancer (p=0.62) study did not provide evidence of Tai Chi improving quality of life more so than the comparison groups."[footnoteRef:2] Also it was noted that for the Cancer patients Tai Chi had very positive effects as well.

It indicated that the practice was a favorable intervention in their treatment, which included depression and stress management. [2: Ibid.] The study also showed that Tai Chi had great improvement on pain management and stiffness in patients suffering from Osteo Arthrititis. This was another finding that just added to the list of successful outcomes for patients who implemented.