A study published recently in The Journal of Pain suggests that Tai Chi may be as effective as neck exercises in relieving persistent neck pain.

The study included 114 participants who experienced chronic neck pain for 3 consecutive months. The participants performed either 12 weeks of group Tai Chi exercises or group neck exercises and no treatment.

An international team of researchers compared the results to test their hypothesis that 12 weeks of Tai Chi would prove superior to no treatment for chronic neck pain. They also explored whether Tai Chi was more or less effective than conventional neck exercises, according to a media release from American Pain Society.

“The study results showed that 12 weeks of Tai Chi was more effective than no treatment to improve pain, disability, quality of life and postural control in persons with chronic neck pain,” states Peter M. Wayne, PhD, a co-author, founder of the Tree of Life Tai Chi Center and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, in the release.

He adds that Tai Chi was neither superior nor inferior to 12 weeks of neck exercises.

The Journal of Pain is the peer-reviewed publication of the American Pain Society.

[Source(s): American Pain Society, Science Daily]