SynthesisFrontiers in public health2025
The optimal course and frequency of Tai Chi for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Effect of ultrasound-guided small needle knife on patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized clinical trial.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objectives: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a highly prevalent degenerative joint disease worldwide and an important cause of disability. Currently, medication and surgical interventions are commonly used in clinical practice, but there are limitations such as significant side effects and high medical costs. Tai Chi, as a non-pharmacologic intervention, is recommended for its safety and few adverse effects. However, there is still a lack of consensus on the optimal course and frequency of Tai Chi intervention, and there is an urgent need to optimize clinical intervention protocols. In order to scientifically assess the optimal course and frequency of Tai Chi for the treatment of KOA, this study integrates the existing evidence through a systematic review and meta-analysis, and aims to provide standardized protocols for Tai Chi training in clinical practice. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCO, CNKI, Wanfang Database, and VIP database were searched from establishment to August 30, 2025. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the quality of the literature and the certainty of the evidence for each outcome according to the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development & Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Outcome measures included Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain, WOMAC stiffness, WOMAC physical function, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain, 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) Physical Component Summary (PCS), and SF-36 Mental Component Summary (MCS). For combined outcomes, standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Review Manager 5.4.1, Stata 15.0 and GRADE profiler software were used to statistically analyze and plot the included information. Results: A total of 13 randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies ( Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that Tai Chi is effective in improving pain, stiffness, physical function, and physical health in patients with KOA. Patients with KOA should consider their specific conditions and choose a Tai Chi training protocol that suits their needs. The preliminary results of this meta-analysis indicate that for patients with pain and physical functional limitations, a long-term (>16 weeks)/three times weekly Tai Chi training regimen may be selected; for patients experiencing knee stiffness, a short-term (≤16 weeks)/three times weekly Tai Chi training regimen may be considered; and for KOA patients seeking to improve physical health through Tai Chi training, a short-term (≤16 weeks)/twice weekly Tai Chi training regimen may be selected. However, the number of large-sample studies in this review is limited, and more studies are urgently needed to confirm these results. Systematic review registration: Identifier-CRD42024599921, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/myprospero.
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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.