An unsupervised online Tai Chi program for people with knee osteoarthritis ("My Joint Tai Chi"): Study protocol for the RETREAT randomised controlled trial
Author: Shiyi Julia Zhu1, Rachel K Nelligan1, Rana S Hinman1, Alexander J Kimp1, Peixuan Li2,3, Anurika De Silva2,3, Jenny Harrison4, Kim L Bennell1
Affiliation:
1 Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
2 Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
3 Methods and Implementation Support for Clinical and Health Research Hub, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
4 Rising Moon Tai Chi School, Mt Martha, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Conference/Journal: Osteoarthr Cartil Open
Date published: 2024 Oct 24
Other:
Volume ID: 6 , Issue ID: 4 , Pages: 100536 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ocarto.2024.100536. , Word Count: 263
Background:
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading contributor to global disability, with exercise proven to be an effective treatment. Tai Chi is a recommended type of exercise, but it is primarily done in person which imposes an accessibility issue. This study aims to evaluate the effects of an online unsupervised program, when provided with online educational information and exercise adherence support, on changes in knee pain and physical function, when compared to online education control for people with knee OA.
Methods:
A two-arm, superiority parallel-design, pragmatic randomised controlled trial will be conducted involving 178 people with a clinical diagnosis of knee OA. After completing baseline assessment, participants will be randomly assigned to either: i) "My Joint Education", an education control website containing OA information only; or ii) "My Joint Tai Chi", an intervention website containing the same information as the control, a 12-week unsupervised online Tai Chi program to be undertaken at home 3 times a week, and information about an exercise adherence support app. All participants will be reassessed at 12 weeks after randomisation. Primary outcomes are overall knee pain during walking and physical function using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index subscale.
Discussion:
This randomised controlled trial will provide evidence about the effectiveness of the "My Joint Tai Chi" website compared to "My Joint Education" website on self-reported knee pain and physical function for people with knee OA.
Trial registration:
Prospectively registered with the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ID: ACTRN12623000780651) on 18th July 2023.
Keywords: Digital health; Exercise; Knee osteoarthritis; Randomised controlled trial; Tai Chi.
PMID: 39554480 PMCID: PMC11566333 DOI: 10.1016/j.ocarto.2024.100536
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