Functional outcomes of Tai Chi exercise prescription in women with knee osteoarthritis
Author: Ning Kang1, Yi Wang2, Gong Chen1, Chao Guo1, Zhanjia Zhang3, Donghui Mei4, Nancy Morrow-Howell5, Dongmin Wang3
Affiliation:
1 Institute of Population Research, Peking University, No.5 Yiheyuan Road Haidian District, Beijing, 100871, China.
2 University of Iowa School of Social Work, 225B North Hall, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
3 Department of Physical Education, Peking University, No.5 Yiheyuan Road Haidian District, Beijing, 100871, China.
4 Capital Normal University, 105 West Third Ring Road North, Haidian District, Beijing, 100048, China.
5 Washington University in St. Louis, Brown School, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
Conference/Journal: Sports Med Health Sci
Date published: 2022 Nov 12
Other:
Volume ID: 4 , Issue ID: 4 , Pages: 239-244 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.smhs.2022.10.001. , Word Count: 246
Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) is the most common type of knee joint injury and also a risk factor for multiple health consequences and is prevalent among older women. The updated clinical guidelines for KOA treatment by the American Rheumatism Association recommend Tai Chi exercise. However, a literature review outlined limitations in Tai Chi intervention implementations. This study aimed to address some of the gaps. This study selected thirty female patients to participate in Tai Chi exercises and undergo relevant tests. The subjects were randomly assigned to Tai Chi or education groups. Independent sample t-tests were conducted to compare the difference in health indicators between the two groups after the intervention. The difference-in-differences (DID) regression was performed to assess the difference in the health outcomes between the two groups at baseline and follow-up and the difference in the differences. After the completion of the intervention, the Tai Chi group reported significantly improved KOA symptoms, physical fitness, and health status indicators than the control group. Specifically, the group differences were significantly larger at the baseline than at the follow-up. Our findings provide compelling evidence of the effects of the innovative Tai Chi exercise prescription specifically designed for KOA patients. The empirical evidence on its effectiveness in alleviating KOA symptoms and improving the overall health of middle-aged and elderly women with KOA suggested that Tai Chi intervention exercise has huge prospects for integration in KOA rehabilitation therapy.
Keywords: Exercise prescription; Intervention; KOA; Tai Chi.
PMID: 36600975 PMCID: PMC9806703 DOI: 10.1016/j.smhs.2022.10.001
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