title: Tai Chi Qigong for the quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis: a pilot, randomized, waiting list controlled trial.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Hwa-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hi-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Younbyoung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Song-Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Nam
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Je-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang-Shik
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Hyejung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: 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