Tai Chi is effective in treating knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of Tai Chi in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms. METHODS We conducted a prospective, single blind, randomized controlled trial of 40 individuals with symptomatic tibiofemoral OA. Patients were randomly assigned to 60 minutes of Tai Chi (10 modified forms from classic Yang style) or attention control (wellness education and stretching) twice weekly for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included WOMAC function, patient and physician global assessments, timed chair stand, depression index, self efficacy scale, and quality of life. We repeated these assessments at 24 and 48 weeks. Analyses were compared by intent to treat principles. RESULTS The 40 patients had a mean age of 65 years and a mean body mass index of 30.0 kg/m(2) Compared with the controls, patients assigned to Tai Chi exhibited significantly greater improvement in WOMAC pain (mean difference at 12 weeks 118.80 mm [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 183.66, 53.94; P 0.0005] WOMAC physical function 324.60 mm [95% CI 513.98, 135.22; P 0.001] patient global visual analog scale (VAS; 2.15 cm [95% CI 3.82, 0.49; P 0.01] physician global VAS 1.71 cm [95% CI 2.75, 0.66; P 0.002] chair stand time 10.88 seconds [95% CI 15.91, 5.84; P 0.00005] Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale 6.70 [95% CI 11.63, 1.77; P 0.009] self efficacy score (0.71 [95% CI 0.03, 1.39; P 0.04] and Short Form 36 physical component summary (7.43 [95% CI 2.50, 12.36; P 0.004] No severe adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION Tai Chi reduces pain and improves physical function, self efficacy, depression, and health related quality of life for knee OA.
Arthritis and rheumatism