Protecting the Knees During Tai Chi

Integrating Tai chi as part of your weekly wellness program is an excellent way to increase flexibility, reduce stress and maintain your body’s overall natural health.

This ancient Chinese art form originated 2,000 years ago as a form of self defense, but today it is often explained to novices as “meditation in motion.”

It involves uses slow movements and deep stances that can strengthen the legs and arms as well as overall muscle tone. But when practiced improperly, Tai chi can cause unnecessary injury to the knees due to their fragile construction.

The graceful movements of Tai chi should mainly employ the body’s thighs, hips, and feet; not the knees. Proper alignment when practicing Tai chi is essential in getting the most from this exercise for natural health.

At the start of your Tai chi session, make sure to place the knee in line with the big toe and keep it there at all times when practicing form in order to keep the knee from collapsing or overextending. Another important tip is to make sure that the hips are working and moving more than the knees by moving from the waist.

For more detailed advice on protecting the knees during Tai Chi, check out the article, Resolving Knee Strain in Tai Chi Practice on the Tai Chi Network.