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Published on: June 30, 2023
Tai chi for osteoarthritis: a systematic review
Myeong Soo Lee1, Max H Pittler, Edzard Ernst
1Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter & Plymouth, Exeter, UK. myeong.lee@pms.ac.uk
Clinical Rheumatology
|September 18, 2007
Summary
Tai chi shows some promise for reducing knee osteoarthritis pain, but evidence for broader pain relief and improved physical function remains inconclusive. More rigorous trials are needed.
Area of Science:
- Integrative medicine
- Rheumatology
- Physical therapy
Background:
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease.
- Effective non-pharmacological treatments for OA pain and function are sought.
- Tai chi is a mind-body exercise with potential therapeutic benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate controlled clinical trials on tai chi for osteoarthritis.
- To assess the efficacy of tai chi in managing OA pain and physical function.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (MEDLINE, AMED, Cochrane, etc.) until June 2007.
- Inclusion of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled clinical trials (CCTs).
- Methodological quality assessment using the Jadad score.
Main Results:
- Five RCTs and seven CCTs met inclusion criteria.
- Two RCTs indicated significant pain reduction in knee OA patients with tai chi.
- Evidence for improved physical function was inconsistent across studies.
Conclusions:
- Encouraging, yet limited, evidence suggests tai chi may aid knee OA pain management.
- Current evidence is not convincing for widespread pain reduction or functional improvement.
- Future research requires larger sample sizes and extended treatment durations.
