Trial reportScientific reports2025
The effects of Tai Chi on clinical outcomes and gait biomechanics in knee osteoarthritis patients: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
Trial report in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Effects of Tai Chi combined with transcranial direct current stimulation on pain in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled neuroimaging trial.BMC medicine · 2026Trial
- A community-based Daoyin program for health promotion: effects of the Qi and mind harmonizing method on body constitution for the health of older adults.Frontiers in public health · 2025Trial
- Osteoarthritis: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment.MedComm · 2026Review
- Rescuing gait under cognitive load: the benefits of Tai Chi for MCI.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Article
- Leg-specific modulation of muscle synergies during Tai Chi heel kick in elite athletes.Frontiers in physiology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common degenerative joint disease that significantly reduces mobility and quality of life in elderly populations. Tai Chi, a low-impact mind-body exercise, has been suggested as a potential non-pharmacological intervention for managing KOA, but its biomechanical effects remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 14-week Tai Chi program on clinical symptoms, lower limb biomechanics, and muscle activation patterns in elderly patients with KOA. A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted, enrolling 24 participants aged 55-70 years with unilateral KOA. Participants were randomly assigned to a Tai Chi intervention group or a control group receiving health education only. Primary outcomes included joint range of motion, joint moments, and muscle activation, measured using a motion capture system and surface electromyography. Secondary outcomes, such as pain, stiffness, function (WOMAC), balance (BBS), and quality of life (SF-12), were also assessed pre- and post-intervention. The Tai Chi group demonstrated significant improvements in WOMAC pain (-1.58 ± 1.44 vs. 0.11 ± 0.78, p = 0.01), stiffness (-0.33 ± 0.78 vs. 0.56 ± 0.88, p = 0.02), and function scores (-2.58 ± 3.53 vs. 1.00 ± 2.78, p = 0.02) compared to the control group. Balance (BBS: 1.42 ± 1.88 vs. -0.89 ± 1.27, p = 0.01) and physical health (SF-12 PCS: 5.45 ± 6.76 vs. -1.05 ± 2.17, p = 0.01) were also enhanced. Biomechanically, Tai Chi reduced horizontal plane knee ROM (-3.03 ± 1.00°, p = 0.01) and maximum knee extension moments (affected side: -0.09 ± 0.04 N/kg, p = 0.04, Non-affected side: -0.11 ± 0.05 N/kg, p = 0.03). Tibialis anterior muscle activation increased significantly (5.66 ± 1.05%MVIC, p = 0.02), while other muscles showed non-significant trends. Tai Chi demonstrated significant clinical and biomechanical benefits for elderly KOA patients, suggesting its potential as a safe, accessible, and effective therapeutic intervention.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.