Abstract
BackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is one of the most common chronic degenerative joint diseases, and a multi-disciplinary approach to educating patients with OA knee are effective in symptoms management. Tai Chi exercise is a novel approach to relieving knee OA symptoms. Combining both educational program and Tai Chi has not yet been explored.MethodsMulti-disciplinary education program included a total of 4-week 2-h weekly talks delivered by different health professionals with live demonstrations. This was then followed by a 1-h Tai Chi class (Baduanjin). Results from IPAQ (Physical activity level), WOMAC (evaluate knee OA conditions), and SF-36v2 (quality of life) were collected at the first class of education program, 3 and 6 months after the end of Tai Chi class. CSQ-8 (program effectiveness) was administered on the last day of Tai Chi class.ResultsOne hundred and twelve patients joined the program. The overall attendance was over 90% with close-to-zero dropout rate. Satisfaction scored high in 85% of patients. WOMAC pain scores (p = 0.04) and SF-36v2 emotional role (p = 0.02) were statistically decreasing (improving) at 6 months after the program. SF-36v2 physical role and mental health tended to improve with time.ConclusionsCombining both multidisciplinary education program program and Tai Chi exercise for knee OA patients was proven feasible. This program received high satisfaction, high attendance and very low dropout rates without any adverse event. Patients’ pain and emotion were significantly improved. A large-scale randomized trial introducing a control group is recommended.Trial registrationRegistry: ClinicalTrials.govRegistration number: NCT04204213Date of registration: 18/12/2019 (Retrospectively registered)
Highlights
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is one of the most common chronic degenerative joint diseases, and a multi-disciplinary approach to educating patients with OA knee are effective in symptoms management
We developed a multi-disciplinary education program in conjunction with Tai Chi classes
The main objective of this study is to introduce and describe the multi-disciplinary education program and Tai Chi exercise in details and how they were carried out in the community
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is one of the most common chronic degenerative joint diseases, and a multi-disciplinary approach to educating patients with OA knee are effective in symptoms management. Numerous studies investigated the efficacies of nonoperative knee OA management aiming to slow down the deterioration of knee OA, which involved lifestyle and behavioural modifications, exercise and physiotherapy, weight reduction, injury avoidance, and pharmacological treatment [3,4,5,6,7]. Meditative exercises, such as Tai Chi, became trendy amongst the older population over the past few decades. The benefits of Tai Chi on bone health and fall prevention, such as enhancing senior patients’ bone mineral density and fragility fractures, have been well documented [8,9,10]
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