Remote Tai Chi for Knee Osteoarthritis
(TAICHIKNEE Trial)
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: Tufts Medical Center
Disqualifiers: Tai chi practice, Dementia, Neuro disorders, others
No Placebo Group
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?The goal of this pragmatic randomized trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of remote Tai Chi to treat knee pain in adults with knee osteoarthritis. The main questions the trial aims to answer are:
* Compared to routine care, will patients with Knee OA receiving remote Tai Chi exhibit greater improvement in knee-related pain (WOMAC pain score, primary outcome), pain interference (PROMIS-Pain Interference, secondary outcome), and health-related quality of life at 3 months?
* Does remote tai chi decreases healthcare utilization and analgesic use over the one-year study period?
Researchers will compare remote Tai Chi added to routine care to routine care alone to see if remote tai chi works to treat knee osteoarthritis pain. Participants will participate in remotely delivered web-based tai chi sessions, twice a week for 12 weeks, or will continue to receive routine care. Participants will be followed for 12 months after randomization.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems that the focus is on adding Tai Chi to your routine care, so you may not need to stop your medications, but it's best to confirm with the trial organizers.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Remote Tai Chi for knee osteoarthritis?
Research shows that Tai Chi can help reduce pain and improve physical function in people with knee osteoarthritis. Some studies found significant pain reduction and better daily activity performance compared to routine treatments.
12345Is Remote Tai Chi safe for humans?
Research on Tai Chi, including remote versions, generally shows it to be safe for humans, with few reports of adverse events (unwanted side effects).
15678How is Remote Tai Chi different from other treatments for knee osteoarthritis?
Remote Tai Chi is unique because it allows patients to practice Tai Chi, a gentle exercise from an ancient Chinese martial art, from their own homes, making it accessible and convenient. Unlike traditional in-person exercise programs, this remote approach can be particularly beneficial for those with mobility issues or who live far from treatment centers.
1891011Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for adults with knee osteoarthritis who experience pain that affects their daily activities. Participants will be randomly assigned to either add remote Tai Chi sessions to their routine care or continue with their usual treatment without Tai Chi.Inclusion Criteria
Able to provide informed consent
Has access to a home computer or device that will allow telehealth delivery of the intervention
I am 50 years old or older.
+4 more
Exclusion Criteria
I need a cane or another device to walk.
I have had reconstructive surgery before.
Currently practicing Tai Chi
+4 more
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Treatment
Participants receive remote Tai Chi sessions twice a week for 3 months
12 weeks
24 sessions (virtual)
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
12 months
Evaluations at 3, 6, and 12 months
Open-label extension (optional)
Participants in the routine care group are offered access to Tai Chi session recordings after the trial
Post-trial
Participant Groups
The study is testing if practicing Tai Chi remotely can reduce the impact of knee pain on physical, mental, and social activities. It also looks at improvements in knee function and whether participants use fewer painkillers as a result.
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Tai Chi + Routine CareExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The intervention will be delivered via a HIPAA-secure web-based video platform. All remote Tai Chi sessions will be 60 minutes, twice a week, for 3 months. All program components will use the Yang style Tai Chi, and every session will include warm up, review of principles, meditation with movement, breathing techniques and relaxation.
Group II: Routine CareActive Control1 Intervention
Participants will be encouraged to continue their ongoing care for Knee OA by their providers. In addition, primary care providers and other participating clinicians in the health system will receive information from the study team on routine care or "2019 ACR Guideline-Based Care." At the end of the 12-month trial period, routine care participants will be offered access to recordings for the full 3-month Tai Chi program (24 sessions).
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
Tufts Medical CenterBoston, MA
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Tufts Medical CenterLead Sponsor
University of California, Los AngelesCollaborator
Boston Medical CenterCollaborator
The Cleveland ClinicCollaborator
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)Collaborator
References
Group and home-based tai chi in elderly subjects with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. [2022]To evaluate the effects of tai chi consisting of group and home-based sessions in elderly subjects with knee osteoarthritis.
Tai Chi is effective in treating knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. [2022]To evaluate the effectiveness of Tai Chi in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms.
Tai Chi exercise can ameliorate physical and mental health of patients with knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis. [2022]To systematically review the effects of Tai Chi exercise as a nonpharmacological therapeutic strategy on the physical and mental health in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
Physical activity for osteoarthritis management: a randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating hydrotherapy or Tai Chi classes. [2008]To determine whether Tai Chi or hydrotherapy classes for individuals with chronic symptomatic hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA) result in measurable clinical benefits.
Tai chi for osteoarthritis: a systematic review. [2022]The aim of this study was to evaluate data from controlled clinical trials testing the effectiveness of tai chi for treating osteoarthritis. Systematic searches were conducted on MEDLINE, AMED, British Nursing Index, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycInfo, The Cochrane Library 2007, Issue 2, the UK National Research Register and ClinicalTrials.gov, Korean medical databases, the Qigong and Energy database and Chinese medical databases (until June 2007). Hand searches included conference proceedings and our own files. There were no restrictions regarding the language of publication. All controlled trials of tai chi for patients with osteoarthritis were considered for inclusion. Methodological quality was assessed using the Jadad score. Five randomised clinical trials (RCTs) and seven non-randomised controlled clinical trials (CCTs) met all inclusion criteria. Five RCTs assessed the effectiveness of tai chi on pain of osteoarthritis (OA). Two RCTs suggested significant pain reduction on visual analog scale or Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) compared to routine treatment and an attention control program in knee OA. Three RCTs did not report significant pain reduction on multiple sites pain. Four RCTs tested tai chi for physical functions. Two of these RCTs suggested improvement of physical function on activity of daily living or WOMAC compared to routine treatment or wait-list control, whilst two other RCTs failed to do so. In conclusion, there is some encouraging evidence suggesting that tai chi may be effective for pain control in patients with knee OA. However, the evidence is not convincing for pain reduction or improvement of physical function. Future RCTs should assess larger patient samples for longer treatment periods and use appropriate controls.
T'ai chi for the treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. [2022]Objectives To summarise and critically evaluate the evidence from randomised clinical trials (RCTs) of t'ai chi as a treatment for patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Design Eleven databases were searched from their inception to July 2010. RCTs testing t'ai chi against any type of controls in human patients with OA localised in any joints that assessed any type of clinical outcome measures were considered. Two reviewers independently performed the selection of the studies, data abstraction and validations. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane criteria. Results Nine RCTs met the inclusion criteria, and most of them had significant methodological weaknesses. Six RCTs tested the effects of t'ai chi compared with that of an attention-control programme, a waiting list and routine care or self-help programmes in patients with OA in the knee. The meta-analysis suggested that t'ai chi has favourable effects on pain (n=256; standard mean difference (SMD), -0.79; 95% CI -1.19 to -0.39; p=0.0001; I(2)=55%), physical function (n=256; SMD, -0.86; 95% CI -1.20 to -0.52; p
What do we really know about the safety of tai chi?: A systematic review of adverse event reports in randomized trials. [2022]To systematically review the frequency and quality of adverse event (AE) reports in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of tai chi (TC).
Effects of Tai chi in knee osteoarthritis patients: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. [2023]Tai Chi (TC) is a complementary therapy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Although systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (Mas) of efficacy studies have been published, the results remain uncertain, and their quality has not yet been fully evaluated. Here, we summarize the existing SRs/Mas, evaluate their quality and level of evidence, and provide a reference for the effectiveness of TC.
Effectiveness of remote exercise programs in reducing pain for patients with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review of randomized trials. [2022]Remote knee osteoarthritis (OA) management programs are becoming more popular. This systematic review examined the efficacy of remote exercise programs for relieving pain in persons with knee OA.
Teaching Tai Chi to elders with osteoarthritis pain and mild cognitive impairment. [2021]This article describes the authors' experience and strategies in teaching Tai Chi, a gentle exercise derived from an ancient Chinese martial art, to mildly cognitively impaired elders to relieve osteoarthritic knee pain. The 12-form Sun-style Tai Chi, a set of Tai Chi forms endorsed by the American Arthritis Foundation, was used in the program. Teaching Tai Chi to elders with mild cognitive impairment requires particular strategies tailored to their physical and cognitive frailty. When effectively taught, Tai Chi can be a unique and cost-effective intervention for elders with knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.
Teaching Tai Chi to elders with osteoarthritis pain and mild cognitive impairment. [2021]This article describes the authors' experience and strategies in teaching Tai Chi, a gentle exercise derived from an ancient Chinese martial art, to mildly cognitively impaired elders to relieve osteoarthritic knee pain. The 12-form Sun-style Tai Chi, a set of Tai Chi forms endorsed by the American Arthritis Foundation, was used in the program. Teaching Tai Chi to elders with mild cognitive impairment requires particular strategies tailored to their physical and cognitive frailty. When effectively taught, Tai Chi can be a unique and cost-effective intervention for elders with knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.