� Qigong therapy, a form of traditional Chinese medical practice, appears to be a potential complementary treatment for osteoarthritis subordinate upon the capability of the therapist, according to a written report conducted at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey by Kevin Chen, PhD, MPH, and Dr. Adam Perlman, MPH, FACP.
The study, coroneted "Effects of external Qigong therapy on osteoarthritis of the human knee," was published in the April 2008 edition of Clinical Rheumatology. An purloin of the report canful be set up at the PubMed web site.
Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the US and degenerative joint disease is the most common form of arthritis, touching about 21 million Americans. Patients suffering from osteoarthritis are increasingly utilizing complementary and alternative medicine treatments, including Qigong therapy, used in China for treating arthritis.
Qigong is a general condition for a variety of traditional Chinese energy exercises and therapy. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) suggests the existence of a subtle energy (qi) circulating throughout the body and in the circumferent environment. According to TCM, good health is the result of free-flowing, well-balance "qi", patch sickness or pain is the effect of a blockage of the "qi" flow or unbalanced "qi" in the body.
"Although further research needs to be conducted, Qigong may be an effective completing treatment for osteoarthritis," aforementioned Dr. Perlman, chair of the Department of Primary Care, executive director director of the UMDNJ-Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and a co-investigator on the study. "Given the limitation and potency adverse personal effects of drug intervention of osteoarthritis, Qigong therapy mightiness prove to be a valuable option as a supplement to conventional treatment." Further study is needed to determine the efficaciousness of the practice.
For the purpose of this study, deuce Qigong therapists were invited to participate, using external Qigong therapy. External Qigong therapy (EQT) involves hand movements, similar to therapeutic touch, g-Jo on specific points, focussed attention and other mind healing techniques to address the therapist "qi" or energy into the patient. This is performed in an elbow grease to take out sick "qi," eliminating disease or relieving pain.
Both healers were trained in China, but from dissimilar traditions. The first therapist had lineal heritage in Taoism and was known for his anticancer preparation and accomplishment. The arcsecond healer was the fifth part generation natural into a traditional Chinese medicine family but did not see medical schooling. It was noted that there is considerable variability in the forms of EQT practice, varying by school and practitioner.
Study participants reported significant pain in the neck reduction and functionality in varying degrees after therapy. The researchers indicated during the course of the study that participating healers produced significantly different outcomes.
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is the nation's largest free-standing public health sciences university with more than 5,500 students attendance the state's three medical schools, its only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and its only school of public health, on five campuses. Last year, there were more than two million patient visits to UMDNJ facilities and faculty at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, Scotch Plains, Camden and Stratford. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, a mental health and addiction services network.
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