The effects on pain, physical function, and quality of life of quadriceps strengthening exercises combined with Baduanjin qigong in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: a quasi-experimental study


Author: Fenglan Wang1,2, Xiaoli Zhang2, Xiao Tong3, Min Zhang2, Fengmei Xing2, Kun Yang2, Nana Jiao2, Zhiguang Duan4

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> School of Nursing, Shanxi Medical University, 56 Xinjian Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan, 030001, China.

<sup>2</sup> College of Nursing and Rehabilitation, North China University of Science and Technology, 21 Bohai Road, Caofeidian District, Tangshan, 063210, China.

<sup>3</sup> Department of Joint Surgery, The Second Hospital of Tangshan, 21 Jianshe Road, Lubei District, Tangshan, 063000, China.

<sup>4</sup> School of Nursing, Shanxi Medical University, 56 Xinjian Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan, 030001, China. dzg528@sxmu.edu.cn.
Conference/Journal: BMC Musculoskelet Disord
Date published: 2021 Mar 29
Other:
 Volume ID: 22   ,  Issue ID: 1   ,  Pages: 313   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04179-8.   ,  Word Count: 260  
    Background:

Exercise is recommended as a principal treatment for individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, the best choice for an optimal exercise program able to promote long-term compliance in KOA patients is not clear. This study aims to compare the effect of combined exercise (CE: quadriceps strengthening exercises (QSE) and Baduanjin qigong training (BDJ)) versus QSE alone and BDJ alone on older adults with KOA.



Methods:

A three-arm, quasi-experimental trial with repeated measurements was used. As a cluster randomized trial, participants from three community centers were assigned respectively to QSE group, BDJ group and CE group. We assessed pain intensity, physical function, self-efficacy, and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) using standardized instruments at baseline, 3 months and 6 months follow-up.



Results:

One hundred and twenty-eight participants with KOA aged over 60 completed the study. Over the 6 months, there were significant group interaction effects on pain intensity (F = 28.888, P < 0.001), physical function (F = 26.646, P < 0.001), and self-efficacy (F = 22.359, P < 0.001), and, based on a short form-12 item health survey questionnaire (SF-12), physical component summary (F = 7.470, P < 0.001), and mental component summary (F = 10.207, P < 0.001). Overall, the CE group exhibited significantly greater improvement in all outcomes when compared to the QSE group and the BDJ group.



Conclusions:

CE treatment is more effective than QSE and BDJ in pain relief, increasing physical function, improving self-efficacy, and raising quality-of-life in community-dwelling KOA older adults. Moreover, it promotes long-term compliance in KOA community patients.



Trial registration:

Chinese Clinical Trails Registry number ChiCTR2000033387 (retrospectively registered). Registered 30 May 2020.



Keywords: Baduanjin qigong; Knee osteoarthritis; Quadriceps strengthening exercises.



PMID: 33781238 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-021-04179-8