Tai chi and qigong effective for osteoarthritis and similar conditions
A comprehensive review of 1,744 clinical trials confirms that traditional Chinese exercises like tai chi and qigong are effective for managing musculoskeletal disorders. The study suggests these practices improve pain, physical function, and sleep quality, particularly when performed for at least 150 minutes per week.
Why it matters
This provides high-level scientific validation for non-pharmacological interventions, potentially reducing reliance on pain medication for chronic conditions.
Traditional Chinese exercises, such as tai chi, offer wide ranging benefits for people with musculoskeletal disorders.
These include improving physical function, pain, mental health, sleep quality and bone mineral density, according to an overarching review of pooled data analyses of systematic reviews published online on Aug 24 (2026) in the British Journal of Sports Medicine .
The review drew on 92 data syntheses from 1,744 randomised controlled clinical trials.
It found “high certainty evidence” for the effectiveness of traditional Chinese exercise, such as tai chi, qigong, baduanjin, wuqinxi and yijinjing, for a range of health outcomes for people with musculoskeletal disorders.
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