Effects of Tai Chi on beta endorphin and inflammatory markers in older adults with chronic pain: an exploratory study.

Author: You T1, Ogawa EF2,3, Thapa S4, Cai Y4, Yeh GY5,6,7, Wayne PM6,7, Shi L4, Leveille SG4,5,6
Affiliation:
1Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA. tongjian.you@umb.edu.
2Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA.
3New England GRECC, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA.
4Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 02125, USA.
5Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
6Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
7Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
Conference/Journal: Aging Clin Exp Res.
Date published: 2019 Aug 20
Other: Special Notes: doi: 10.1007/s40520-019-01316-1. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 164


The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the effects of Tai Chi on blood levels of beta endorphin (β-endorphin) and inflammatory markers in older adults with chronic pain. Forty community-dwelling older adults with chronic pain were randomized to Tai Chi or light physical exercise, and each offered twice weekly for 12 weeks. Following the 12-week intervention, neither Tai Chi nor light physical exercise changed levels of β-endorphin and inflammatory markers. However, in older adults who completed 70% or more classes, Tai Chi significantly lowered levels of β-endorphin (p < 0.05), whereas light physical exercise did not change levels of β-endorphin. The results suggest that Tai Chi may reduce levels of β-endorphin in older adults with chronic pain. Future studies are needed to better understand the role of the opioid analgesic system and immune system in regulating pain with aging and the long-term effects of Tai Chi on pain-related biomarkers.

KEYWORDS: Beta endorphin; Chronic pain; Inflammation; Older adults; Tai Chi

PMID: 31432432 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-019-01316-1

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