Tai Chi reduces pain and improves physical function for people with knee OA.

Question: What is the effect of Tai Chi for people with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee? Design: Randomised, controlled trial with concealed allocation, blinded outcome assessment and intention-to-treat analysis. Setting: An urban tertiary academic hospital in the USA. Participants: Men and women > 55 years, with body mass index < 40 kg/m2, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale score > 40mm, knee OA as defined by the American College of Rheumatology, and grade 2, 3, or 4 radiographic severity on the Kellgren-Lawrence classification. Prior Tai Chi training, recent intra-articular steroid or hyaluronate injections, and reconstructive surgery on the knee were exclusion criteria. Randomisation of 40 participants allotted 20 to the Tai Chi group and 20 to an attention control group. Interventions: Both groups participated in 60-minute sessions twice weekly for 12 weeks. The Tai Chi sessions included self-massage, movement, breathing technique, and relaxation. The participants were instructed to practise Tai Chi at least 20 minutes per day at home in the intervention period, and to continue this practice after the intervention Tai Chi reduces pain and improves physical function for people with knee OA