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Tai Chi Exercise Good for Osteoporosis

Tai chi chun (TCC) exercise can help slow bone loss in postmenopausal women. This is the conclusion of a study from the Hong Kong Center for Osteoporosis Care. And it's good news, since bone loss is a major risk factor for fractures in women after menopause.

TCC is a low-impact exercise popular with many older adults. It's made up of slow, gentle movements of the entire body. It's performed in the standing position, making it a weight-bearing exercise. It's also been shown to improve many aspects of health, such as balance, strength, and motor control.

In this study, 132 women were divided into two groups. Group one followed a program of regular exercise. TCC (Yang style) was done five days each week (45 minutes each day) for one year. The control group did not do any type of exercise.

Bone mineral density in the weight-bearing bones was measured in each woman before the study started. It was measured again 12 months later. The number of bone fractures was also recorded.

The authors report that a general bone loss occurred in both groups. This bone loss was greater in the control group. Bone loss occurred at a slower rate in the TCC group.

The authors conclude that TCC is a good exercise for older people to help prevent osteoporosis. It slows bone loss and decreases the risk of falls and fractures. Overall quality of life is improved, too. These changes come about because TCC increases range of motion, endurance, and strength. Less pain and better posture are added benefits.

References: Kaiming Chan, FRCS, et al. A Randomized, Prospective Study of the Effects of Tai Chi Chun Exercise on Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women. In Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. May 2004. Vol. 85. No. 5. Pp. 717-722.

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