https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3023169/
Abstract
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 classical Yang style) or Attention Control (wellness education and stretching) twice-weekly for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA (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 intention-to-treat principles.
Results
The 40 patients had mean age 65 years and BMI 30.0 kg/m2. Compared to 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 [−183.66 to −53.94]; P= 0.0005), WOMAC physical function, −324.60 mm (CI, −513.98 to −135.22; P= 0.001), patients global VAS, −2.15 cm (CI, −3.82 to −0.49; P= 0.01), physician global VAS, −1.71 cm (CI, −2.75 to −0.66; P=0.002), chair stand time, −10.88 sec. (CI, −15.91 to −5.84; P= 0.00005), CES-Depression index, −6.70 (CI, −11.63 to −1.77; P= 0.009), self-efficacy score, 0.71 (CI, 0.03 to 1.39; P= 0.04) and SF-36 physical component summary, 7.43 (CI, 2.50 to 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.