Tai chi, which originated in China as a martial art, is growing in popularity in the United States because of its studied health benefits. A recent study has linked the slow, flowing movements of the practice with pain and symptom relief in patients who suffer from fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by long-term, body-wide pain, tender joints and muscles, and fatigue.

Fibromyalgia is thought to affect about 5 million people in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women are more susceptible than men. In most cases, the cause of the disorder is unknown; there is no blood test or diagnostic test to confirm fibromyalgia. Physical or emotional trauma may play a role and depression is often a confounding factor. Because diagnosis and treatment options are difficult to nail down, many patients often turn to alternative therapies for help.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was conducted at the Tufts University School of Medicine using 33 volunteers who received three months of tai chi lessons. The group took 60-minute classes twice a week and was encouraged to practice at least 20 minutes each day. A control group of 33 patients were given stretching exercises and wellness education. Participants were evaluated for improvements weekly using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.

Study leader Dr. Chenchen Wang, a rheumatologist at Tufts, said that the tai chi group gradually improved each week. The participants reported improvements in mood, sleep, exercise capacity, self-efficacy and quality of life. One-third of the participants were able to stop using medications. "People said it changed their life," Dr. Wang said.

Tai chi incorporates the Chinese concepts of yin and yang, opposing forces within the body, and qi, a vital energy or life force. Yin represents cold, slow, or passive aspects of the person, while yang represents hot, excited or active aspects. A balance of the two is thought to aid the flow of qi.

Other benefits of the practice include reducing anxiety and depression, improving balance and flexibility, lowering blood pressure, improving cardiovascular fitness, relieving chronic pain, and increasing energy and endurance.

There are many different styles of tai chi, but all involve slow, relaxed, and graceful movements. The volunteers in the fibromyalgia study learned the yang style of tai chi, the most popular and widely practiced style, and was taught by Boston tai chi master Ramel Rones of Mind-Body Therapies. Named for Yang Lu Chan and later modified by his grandson Yang Cheng Fu, the practice consists of 24 different postures.

The practice also involves meditation and coordinated breathing exercises to promote inner calm.

Recent studies into alternative practices such as tai chi also show that it could benefit patients with other chronic conditions such as arthritis or headaches.