太级拳：控制关节炎的好运动
(家庭医生医疗保健网宋芬报导)路透社纽约健康消息-美国麻萨诸塞州的研究人员最近报导说，年纪大的关节炎患者都希望寻找一种舒缓地、不那么剧烈的运动方式来控制关节炎症状，太极拳或许就是这种好运动。
太极拳是一种古老的中国体育形式，就是让身体缓缓地运动，其作用机理是让身心得到最大程度的整体平衡。来自波士顿丹弗尔癌症研究所的凯瑟玲·霍特曼说，太极拳是一种有效的治疗方法，对关节炎患者身心两方面的健康都有促进作用。
霍特曼在春田学院读硕士研究生的时候就进行太极拳对关节炎患者疗效的研究。她和同事们对33名年龄在49岁至81岁之间的关节炎患者做了一个实验。这些人被随机分成2组：一组每星期练两次太极拳，每次一小时，坚持3个月，而另一对照组则不练太极拳。
根据他们发表在12月份《美国老年病学》杂志上的报告，在实验后期，坚持练太极拳的一组病人都反映他们的关节紧张得到了显著缓解，而且身体的一般健康状况有满意的提高，包括步行速度、关节弯曲功能、手臂活动功能、生活自理能力和做家务的能力都提高了。太极拳不仅对病情严重的行动不便的患者(如肥胖、需要使用步行工具和吸氧的病人)有疗效，对一般情况较好的患者也有作用。另外，坚持练太极拳的一组试验对象还对太极拳在关节炎本身的独特疗效作了较高评价，与没有练太极拳的对照组比较，他们的关节炎症状得到了较好的控制。
, http://www.100md.com
这个实验证实，年纪大的关节炎患者可以通过规律地太极拳锻炼显著改善身心健康。霍特曼建议有兴趣练太极拳的关节炎患者应该寻找一个有经验的太极拳老师，这位老师要能适合教很大范围的对象，而且可以根据各种关节炎的类型因人而异地在锻炼形式上做一些调整。
T‘ai Chi May Benefit Those with Arthritis
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older adults who are looking for a gentle, low-impact form of physical activity to help manage their osteoarthritis may benefit from T‘ai Chi, according to Massachusetts researchers.
T‘ai Chi is an ancient Chinese form of exercise that involves slow fluid movements. It is ``based on a holistic approach of balancing the mind and the body,‘‘ the authors explain.
, http://www.100md.com
``T‘ai Chi can be an effective therapy for improving the mental and physical health of patients with osteoarthritis,‘‘ lead author Catherine A. Hartman, from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, told Reuters Health. Hartman conducted the study while a master‘s student at Springfield College.
To investigate the effects of T‘ai Chi on arthritic adults, Hartman and her colleagues performed a study involving 33 individuals who ranged in age from 49 to 81 years. The study participants were randomly divided into two groups: one that received two 1-hour T‘ai Chi classes per week for 3 months and a comparison group that received no T‘ai Chi training.
, http://www.100md.com
At the end of the study period, the T‘ai Chi group reported a significant decrease in their tension level and an increased satisfaction with their general health status, ``including improved walking speed, bending ability, arm function, self-care activities, and household tasks,‘‘ the authors report in the December issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
``T‘ai Chi was beneficial to both patients with severe limitations (obesity, use of a walker, and use of oxygen tank) and the more active and fit people in the class,‘‘ Hartman told Reuters Health.
, http://www.100md.com
In addition, the T‘ai Chi participants reported a higher ‘‘total arthritis self-efficacy‘‘--better management of arthritic symptoms, fatigue control, etc.--than did the comparison group, the researchers note.
``This study demonstrates that older adults with osteoarthritis can realize meaningful improvements in their mental and physical health through regular T‘ai Chi practice,‘‘ Hartman and colleagues conclude.
Individuals who are interested in T‘ai Chi as a therapy for their arthritis should ``look for an experienced T‘ai Chi practitioner who is comfortable teaching to a wide range of students and is able to modify the forms as necessary for people with osteoarthritis,‘‘ Hartman advised., 百拇医药
太极拳是一种古老的中国体育形式，就是让身体缓缓地运动，其作用机理是让身心得到最大程度的整体平衡。来自波士顿丹弗尔癌症研究所的凯瑟玲·霍特曼说，太极拳是一种有效的治疗方法，对关节炎患者身心两方面的健康都有促进作用。
霍特曼在春田学院读硕士研究生的时候就进行太极拳对关节炎患者疗效的研究。她和同事们对33名年龄在49岁至81岁之间的关节炎患者做了一个实验。这些人被随机分成2组：一组每星期练两次太极拳，每次一小时，坚持3个月，而另一对照组则不练太极拳。
根据他们发表在12月份《美国老年病学》杂志上的报告，在实验后期，坚持练太极拳的一组病人都反映他们的关节紧张得到了显著缓解，而且身体的一般健康状况有满意的提高，包括步行速度、关节弯曲功能、手臂活动功能、生活自理能力和做家务的能力都提高了。太极拳不仅对病情严重的行动不便的患者(如肥胖、需要使用步行工具和吸氧的病人)有疗效，对一般情况较好的患者也有作用。另外，坚持练太极拳的一组试验对象还对太极拳在关节炎本身的独特疗效作了较高评价，与没有练太极拳的对照组比较，他们的关节炎症状得到了较好的控制。
, http://www.100md.com
这个实验证实，年纪大的关节炎患者可以通过规律地太极拳锻炼显著改善身心健康。霍特曼建议有兴趣练太极拳的关节炎患者应该寻找一个有经验的太极拳老师，这位老师要能适合教很大范围的对象，而且可以根据各种关节炎的类型因人而异地在锻炼形式上做一些调整。
T‘ai Chi May Benefit Those with Arthritis
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older adults who are looking for a gentle, low-impact form of physical activity to help manage their osteoarthritis may benefit from T‘ai Chi, according to Massachusetts researchers.
T‘ai Chi is an ancient Chinese form of exercise that involves slow fluid movements. It is ``based on a holistic approach of balancing the mind and the body,‘‘ the authors explain.
, http://www.100md.com
``T‘ai Chi can be an effective therapy for improving the mental and physical health of patients with osteoarthritis,‘‘ lead author Catherine A. Hartman, from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, told Reuters Health. Hartman conducted the study while a master‘s student at Springfield College.
To investigate the effects of T‘ai Chi on arthritic adults, Hartman and her colleagues performed a study involving 33 individuals who ranged in age from 49 to 81 years. The study participants were randomly divided into two groups: one that received two 1-hour T‘ai Chi classes per week for 3 months and a comparison group that received no T‘ai Chi training.
, http://www.100md.com
At the end of the study period, the T‘ai Chi group reported a significant decrease in their tension level and an increased satisfaction with their general health status, ``including improved walking speed, bending ability, arm function, self-care activities, and household tasks,‘‘ the authors report in the December issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
``T‘ai Chi was beneficial to both patients with severe limitations (obesity, use of a walker, and use of oxygen tank) and the more active and fit people in the class,‘‘ Hartman told Reuters Health.
, http://www.100md.com
In addition, the T‘ai Chi participants reported a higher ‘‘total arthritis self-efficacy‘‘--better management of arthritic symptoms, fatigue control, etc.--than did the comparison group, the researchers note.
``This study demonstrates that older adults with osteoarthritis can realize meaningful improvements in their mental and physical health through regular T‘ai Chi practice,‘‘ Hartman and colleagues conclude.
Individuals who are interested in T‘ai Chi as a therapy for their arthritis should ``look for an experienced T‘ai Chi practitioner who is comfortable teaching to a wide range of students and is able to modify the forms as necessary for people with osteoarthritis,‘‘ Hartman advised., 百拇医药