Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to test the efficacy of a 20-week Sun-style Tai Chi (TC) program in improving pain and other health outcomes in 55 community-dwelling elders with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and cognitive impairment (CI).
Methods: This was a cluster-randomized clinical trial. Eight sites (55 participants total) were randomly assigned to a TC group (4 sites, 28 participants) or an attention control (education) group (4 sites, 27 participants). Outcome measures included the Western Ontario and McMaster (WOMAC) OA pain scale, physical function and stiffness subscales, the 'Get up and Go' test, the 'Sit and Stand' test and the Mini Mental State Exam. All outcome measures were administered at baseline and the end of the 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 20th weeks. Bivariate statistics (t tests and chi-square) and general linear mixed models were used to analyze the data.
Results: The trajectories of the WOMAC pain score (p=.033) and the WOMAC stiffness score (p=.000) significantly differed between the two groups over the 5-month study period. Secondary analyses for within group differences showed that after adjusting for the site effect, outcomes did not significantly change over time for participants in the attention control group. However, all outcomes did significantly change for participants in the TC group (p=.000-.046).
Conclusion: The results indicate that practicing TC can be efficacious in reducing pain and stiffness in elders with knee OA and CI. TC may have the potential to improve other health outcomes but this requires further verification with sufficient statistical power and better outcome measurement tools tailored to this frail population.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Osteoarthritic Knee, Geriatric Care, Tai Chi
Recommended Citation
Tsai, Pao-Feng; Kuo, Yong-Fang; Chang, Jason Y.; and Beck, Cornelia K., "Effects of a pilot randomized trial of a 20-week Tai Chi program on pain and other health outcomes in elders with cognitive impairment and osteoarthritic knee" (2012). INRC (Congress). 145.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2012/presentations_2012/145
Conference Name
23rd International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Brisbane, Australia
Conference Year
2012
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Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Effects of a pilot randomized trial of a 20-week Tai Chi program on pain and other health outcomes in elders with cognitive impairment and osteoarthritic knee
Brisbane, Australia
Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to test the efficacy of a 20-week Sun-style Tai Chi (TC) program in improving pain and other health outcomes in 55 community-dwelling elders with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and cognitive impairment (CI).
Methods: This was a cluster-randomized clinical trial. Eight sites (55 participants total) were randomly assigned to a TC group (4 sites, 28 participants) or an attention control (education) group (4 sites, 27 participants). Outcome measures included the Western Ontario and McMaster (WOMAC) OA pain scale, physical function and stiffness subscales, the 'Get up and Go' test, the 'Sit and Stand' test and the Mini Mental State Exam. All outcome measures were administered at baseline and the end of the 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 20th weeks. Bivariate statistics (t tests and chi-square) and general linear mixed models were used to analyze the data.
Results: The trajectories of the WOMAC pain score (p=.033) and the WOMAC stiffness score (p=.000) significantly differed between the two groups over the 5-month study period. Secondary analyses for within group differences showed that after adjusting for the site effect, outcomes did not significantly change over time for participants in the attention control group. However, all outcomes did significantly change for participants in the TC group (p=.000-.046).
Conclusion: The results indicate that practicing TC can be efficacious in reducing pain and stiffness in elders with knee OA and CI. TC may have the potential to improve other health outcomes but this requires further verification with sufficient statistical power and better outcome measurement tools tailored to this frail population.