Effect of Taijiquan practice versus wellness education on knee proprioception in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of Taijiquan practice on knee proprioception in patients with knee osteoarthritis(OA).METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing Taijiquan with a control condition(wellness education) in patients with knee OA. The patients participated in either a 60-min Taijiquan session three times weekly or a 60-min weekly educational session, for 24 consecutive weeks. The primary outcomes were changes in knee proprioception. Secondary outcomes were changes in the Western Ontario and Mc Master University Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC).RESULTS: After 24 weeks, compared with the control group, the Taijiquan group demonstrated better improvements in the joint position sense in knee flexion(left:-2.12°; right:-2.02°), and knee extension(left:-2.22°; right:-1.54°). In addition,the Taijiquan group showed significantly greater improvements in the WOMAC scores(P < 0.05) for knee pain(left:-3.17 points; right:-3.74 points),stiffness(left:-2.43 points; right:-2.13 points),and physical function(left:-10.99 points; right:-8.00 points), compared with the control group.CONCLUSION: A 24-week Taijiquan practice resulted in a significant improvement in knee proprioception in patients with knee OA. The present findings add increasing evidence regarding the clinical benefits of Taijiquan as a therapeutic modality for patients to improve the reflex protection of knee joints against potentially harmful forces.