WHEN Joanne Barton became disabled with osteo-arthritis, nerve damage and a shoulder condition, she lived a life of immobility and pain.

But, she quietly found a way out of it, thanks to an ancient Chinese martial art and determination. Today, Joanne teaches Tai Chi and Qigong at classes in Horwich and Blackrod, sharing her expertise and hope.

Interestingly, a study just published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) shows that Tai Chi can be as good or better than aerobic exercise for managing chronic pain. Conditions like fibromyalgia (a long-term condition causing pain all over the body) may benefit from it.

This is not news to 53-year-old Joanne, who lives in Horwich. She became ill in 2006, suffering pain in her hip, leg, back and shoulder.

She was told she would need a hip replacement and had damage to the femoral nerve (the nerve in the thigh affecting the upper thigh and inner leg) and rotator cuff syndrome in her shoulder (inflammation or damage to the muscles and tendons there).

The result was that Joanne, married to Julian and with two sons and three grandchildren, quickly began suffering large amounts of pain and could not move about easily.

“I was on strong pain-killers and feeling very depressed,” she recalled. “It got to the stage where I could only walk with a stick and Julian had to carry me about when the pain got very bad.”

Life for Joanne, who had previously been actively helping in her husband’s motor-cycle business in Horwich, took a downward spiral.

“One day, though, I suddenly decided to Google Tai Chi,” she said. “I looked it up and saw some exercises. So, even though I was sitting down, I decided to try some of them.”

From this beginning, Joanne progressed to standing moves and then found out about a local class. Within a short time attending, her mobility had improved and – because she had to focus on the poses and movement – she was not thinking about the pain.

Tai Chi is the traditional Chinese art of keeping fit, self-defence and improving physical and mental wellbeing. It is best-known for its unique body and mind relaxation, stamina building and internal and external health effects.

“It’s basically a very gentle form of movement to music that more or less anyone can do,” said Joanne. “It increases flexibility and improves balance while reducing stress and tension.”

In Joanne’s case, it allowed her to return to movement, improving her posture, helping her to move formerly stiffened limbs and giving her a good night’s sleep.

“Both my consultant and GP were amazed at how much I’d improved,” she added. “My consultant told me to just keep on doing this and to leave the hip replacement surgery and my GP was delighted by my overall improvement.”

Joanne was so fascinated by Tai Chi that she attended the Deyin Taijiquan Institute in Telford and took an instructor’s course. Just over three months ago, she started her classes at the Brazley Community Centre in Horwich each Wednesday from 7pm to 8pm and in St Andrew’s Place, Blackrod, each Thursday from 7pm to 8pm. She also does seated exercises at Brazley.

“I’ve got several people who have health problems attending who already report an improvement,” said Joanne.

She does her own Tai Chi for half an hour every day and knows this is the only way to keep well. Although her medical problems remain, she finds she can work around them and now takes no pain-killers.

“Tai Chi really has made a major difference to my life,” said Joanne.

For more details about Tai Chi classes call Joanne on 07592 883806.