[Effects of Tai Chi exercise in elderly with knee osteoarthritis]

Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2008 Feb;38(1):11-8. doi: 10.4040/jkan.2008.38.1.11.
[Article in Korean]

Abstract

Purpose: This study was to determine whether the Sun-style 24 forms of Tai Chi exercise improve pain, stiffness, disability, knee joint motion, mobility, balance or falling.

Method: Forty-six community-dwelling elderly subjects (mean age, 75.46+/-6.28) voluntarily participated in an intervention group of either 24 forms of Sun-style Tai Chi for 60 min, 2 times per week for 12 weeks or a control group. A non-equivalent pretest-posttest design was used. Independent t-test and ANCOVA were used to examine group differences by using SPSS12.0.

Result: The experimental group had significantly less pain (F=7.60, p=.008) and stiffness (t=-3.19, p=.003) than the control group. Also there were significant improvements in knee joint motion on the right knee (t=2.44, p=.019), left knee (t=2.30, p=.026), rising time (F=8.03, p=.07), balance on the left single leg test (t=2.20, p=.033), and fear of falling (t=-2.33, p=.024) in the Tai Chi exercise group. No significant group differences were found in disability and falls efficacy.

Conclusion: The Sun-style 24 forms Tai Chi exercise is effective in decreasing pain, stiffness, fear of falling and it improves balance, rising time, and knee joint motion. We suggest a continuing long term intervention to decrease disability and increase efficacy concerning falls.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Fear / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint
  • Male
  • Movement
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / therapy*
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Tai Ji*