Tai Chi Qigong for the quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis: a pilot, randomized, waiting list controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of Tai Chi Qigong training on the quality of life and physical function of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.


METHODS
A preliminary, single-blind, randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
General community, performed at Hwaseong City Health Center.


METHODS
Forty-four elderly subjects (mean age, 69.1 +/- 5.4 years) with knee osteoarthritis.


METHODS
The patients were randomized (2:1) to: (1) an eight-week Tai Chi Qigong training programme or (2) a waiting list control group. The programme involved eight weeks of group Tai Chi Qigong sessions, with 60 minutes per session twice a week.


METHODS
The primary outcome was quality of life measured with the Short Form 36 (SF-36) at baseline and week 8. Secondary outcomes included the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and 6-m walking time.


RESULTS
The training group had statistically significant improvements in the quality of life (changes of SF-36, Qigong versus control: 21.6 +/- 16.8 versus 9.8 +/- 13.6, P < 0.05) and 6-m walking test (change in walking time, Qigong versus control: -1.6 +/- 1.7 versus -0.2 +/- 0.8 s, P < 0.01). The WOMAC scores in the training group were markedly improved, although the differences were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Tai Chi Qigong training appears to have beneficial effects in terms of the quality of life and physical functioning of elderly subjects with knee osteoarthritis. However, more rigorous trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of this training for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Lee
Hwa-Jin
HJ
Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, Seoul and Department of Meridian and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Park
Hi-Joon
HJ
Chae
Younbyoung
Y
Kim
Song-Yi
SY
Kim
Seung-Nam
SN
Kim
Seung-Tae
ST
Kim
Je-Ho
JH
Yin
Chang-Shik
CS
Lee
Hyejung
H
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D026302:Tai Ji