Osteoarthritis

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Tai Chi is effective in treating knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial†‡

  1. Chenchen Wang1,*,
  2. Christopher H. Schmid1,
  3. Patricia L. Hibberd2,
  4. Robert Kalish1,
  5. Ronenn Roubenoff3,
  6. Ramel Rones4,
  7. Timothy McAlindon1

Article first published online: 29 OCT 2009

DOI: 10.1002/art.24832

Issue

Arthritis Care & Research

Arthritis Care & Research

Volume 61, Issue 11, pages 1545–1553, 15 November 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Wang, C., Schmid, C. H., Hibberd, P. L., Kalish, R., Roubenoff, R., Rones, R. and McAlindon, T. (2009), Tai Chi is effective in treating knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 61: 1545–1553. doi: 10.1002/art.24832

Author Information

  1. 1

    Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts

  2. 2

    Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts

  3. 3

    Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, and Biogen Idec, Cambridge, Massachusetts

  4. 4

    Mind-Body Therapies, Boston, Massachusetts

*Division of Rheumatology, Tufts Medical Center, Box 406, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111

  1. †

    ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00362453.

  2. ‡

    The contents of this manuscript are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine or the NIH.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 29 OCT 2009
  2. Article first published online: 29 OCT 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 22 JUN 2009
  4. Manuscript Received: 30 JAN 2009

Funded by

  • National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the NIH. Grant Number: R21AT002161

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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 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/m2. 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.

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