Tai Chi and ankylosing spondylitis
Question :
Can tai chi exercise improve disease activity, flexibility and depression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis?
Answer :
Tai Chi improved disease activity and flexibility in patients with ankylosing spondylitis but there was a high drop rate with only 13 patiens in the treatment group.
Summary :
Forty patients were allocated to either a Tai Chi treatment group or to a no-treatment control group. Tai Chi was performed for 60 minutes, twice a week, for 8 weeks and followed by 8 weeks of home practice. This study used the 21 Tai Chi movements based on Tai Chi for Rheumatoid Arthritis (developed by Australian family physician Dr. Paul Lam). Thirteen out of twenty patients in the Tai Chi group completed the study (a 35% dropout rate). The Tai Chi treatment group was composed of 10 men and 3 women with an average age of 35.2 years. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and the Finger to Floor Distance was improved after 16 weeks in the Tai Chi group. The improvement in depression scores was not statistically significant.
