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.


CONCLUSIONS
Tai Chi reduces pain and improves physical function, self-efficacy, depression, and health-related quality of life for knee OA.
Wang
Chenchen
C
Division of Rheumatology, Tufts Medical Center, Box 406, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA. cwang2@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
Schmid
Christopher H
CH
Hibberd
Patricia L
PL
Kalish
Robert
R
Roubenoff
Ronenn
R
Rones
Ramel
R
McAlindon
Timothy
T
D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D059408:Pain Management; D010358:Patient Participation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D026302:Tai Ji / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal