Effects of Modified T'ai Chi on Symptoms in Older Adults With Osteoarthritis

June 11, 2007 updated by: University of Kansas

Effects of Modified T'ai Chi Exercise on Physical Function, Pain, and Stiffness in Older Adults With Lower Extremity Osteoarthritis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of TC for Arthritis on physical function, pain, and stiffness in older adults with knee/hip OA. Two hypotheses were tested:

  1. Individuals in the TC group will demonstrate greater improvements in physical function compared to control group participants.
  2. Individuals in the TC group will demonstrate greater decreases in pain and stiffness compared to control group participants.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Exercise is considered a vital component of osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. T'ai Chi (TC) is a unique exercise intervention with low-velocity movements. Few studies have addressed the effects of TC on arthritis symptoms and function. TC for Arthritis was modified specifically for people with OA and consists of a standardized set of forms.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a low-dose TC for Arthritis on physical function, pain, and stiffness in individuals with OA.

Twenty-seven older adults with OA (mean age-81.3 years) completed an 8 week non-randomized controlled pre-post test quasi-experimental design study of TC for Arthritis. Physical function, pain, and stiffness were measured at baseline and 8 weeks for the TC and control groups using the WOMAC™ 3.1 Index. Qualitative data from interviews and participant observations were analyzed in order to understand the participants' expectations and experiences with TC.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

30

Phase

  • Phase 1

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

60 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ability to walk independently,
  • Speak and understand English,
  • Understand the consent process; and
  • Give informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participation in rehabilitation or another TC class,
  • At the time of recruitment; and
  • Inability to confirm medical stability for safe participation with healthcare provider.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
physical function
Time Frame: 8 weeks
8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
pain and stiffness
Time Frame: 8 weeks
8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Kansas

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Cynthia Teel S. Teel, BSN, PhD, University of Kansas Medical Center
  • Study Chair: Geraldine R. Neuberger, BSN, EdD, University of Kansas Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

January 1, 2006

Study Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2006

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 11, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 11, 2007

First Posted (Estimate)

June 12, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

June 12, 2007

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 11, 2007

Last Verified

June 1, 2007

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • KUMC-JCarpenter dissertation-1

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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