Study finds decreased knee pain and stiffness and improved physical function in elderly individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of tai chi in elderly subjects with knee osteoarthritis. Forty-one elderly adults with knee osteoarthritis were assigned either to a tai chi program, which consisted of 6 weeks of 40-minute group tai chi sessions, 3 times per week, followed by six weeks of home-based tai chi training, followed by 6 weeks in which they were asked to discontinue tai chi training, or transfer to a control group to attend six weeks of health lectures following the same schedule as the tai chi group, followed by 12 weeks of no activity.

Knee pain measured by visual analogue scale and range of motion and physical function measured by Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) were recorded at baseline and every three weeks throughout the 18-week study.

After 12 weeks the tai chi group showed significant improvements in overall knee pain, maximum knee pain and the WOMAC subscales of physical function and stiffness compared to baseline, while no significant changes in any outcome was observed in the control group. All improvements in the tai chi group disappeared after the 6-week detraining period. 

Abstract