Practicing tai chi can help ease joint pain for people who suffer from osteoarthritis in their knees, according to new research. The findings add to the health resources available for arthritis sufferers.

In a study conducted at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, people in their 60s were able to reduce pain from arthritis, increase their physical functioning and boost their mood by taking part in tai chi.

Tai chi is a traditional form of exercise that originates in China and has been practiced for more than 2,000 years. Practitioners move through a series of dancelike poses, without pausing in between.

Meditation, deep breathing and relaxation are also considered fundamental to the practice.

The scientists, led by Dr. Chenchen Wang, compared the wellbeing of osteoarthritis sufferers who performed tai chi for two hours per week over a period of 12 weeks with those who took part in a more conventional stretching routine for the same amount of time.

“Tai chi mind-body exercise appears to provide an important approach for self-care and self-management for knee osteoarthritis,” commented Wang, adding that “future larger studies are needed” to confirm the results.