Evaluating the Safety and Potential Use of a Weight-Bearing Exercise, Tai-Chi Chuan, for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Analgesia adjuvante e alternativa

“…Contato físico das mãos e oração conjunta, técni-cas miorrelaxantes, como a ioga e tai-chi-chuan, que usam a meditação contribuem para o bem-estar do paciente com melhor adaptação à dor crônica. Os oncologistas entendem que a busca do lado espiritual pelo paciente diante do tratamento de câncer é mais um episódio na sua batalha pessoal e existencial a ser respeitado e não apenas uma atitude médica 36,41,42 .…”

“…O efeito placebo é comum a todos os tratamentos, mas não é específico ao tratamento testado. Os efeitos analgésicos do placebo não se devem a inclinações pessoais ou fatores subjetivos, mas a específicos circuitos encefálicos e a processos de neurotransmissão peptidérgica relacionadas com a dor: endorfinas, encefalinas, dinorfinas e outros neurotransmissores 1,2,7-10, 21,41,42,74,164 . O efeito placebo é poderoso nas doenças de etiopatogenia psicossomática, como asma, hipertensão arterial e sín-dromes dolorosas.…”

“…The physical contact with the hands combined with prayer, muscle relaxation techniques, such as yoga and tai-chi-chuan that use meditation, contributes to the patient's well being and better adaptation to chronic pain. Oncologists understand that the patient's search for spirituality when facing cancer treatment is another episode in his personal and existential battle that should be respected 36,41,42 .…”

“…The placebo effect is common to every treatment, but it is not specific to the treatment being tested. The analgesic effects of a placebo are not a consequence of personal tendencies or subjective factors, but of specific encephalic circuits and peptidergic neurotransmission connected to pain: endorphins, encephalins, dinorphins, and others 1,2,7-10, 21,41,42,74,164 . The placebo effect is very strong in diseases with a psychosomatic etiopathogeny, such as asthma, hypertension, and pain syndromes.…”

Efficacy of rehabilitation interventions in rheumatic conditions

“…The indusion of weight-bearing exercises is still debated but may be important to maintain bone density. Kirsteins et al [8] suggest that the traditional Chinese exercise tai-chi chuan has all these qualities and can be practiced safe1y by patients with rheumatoid arthritis when some modifications such as limited knee flexion are adopted. Forty-seven graduates of the arthritis se1f-help dass were randomized to receive ta ichi chuan or to a control group doing usual activities.…”