Tai Chi Shows Promise in Reducing Pain and Improving Physical Function in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Strategic Insights -

New research has found that Tai Chi may have a significant effect on reducing pain, joint stiffness, and improving physical function in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials involving 980 participants found that Tai Chi was associated with improvements in various measures, including pain, stiffness, and physical function. The results suggest that Tai Chi may be a valuable adjunctive therapy for individuals with knee osteoarthritis, improving both physical and mental well-being.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 17 randomized controlled trials comprising 980 participants, with the aim of examining the potential impact of Tai Chi on the enhancement of physical and mental well-being in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
  • Tai Chi was significantly associated with improvements in measures such as the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score, WOMAC stiffness score, and WOMAC physical function score.
  • The results indicated that Tai Chi demonstrated superior performance in the Timed Up and Go test, while no significant difference was observed in the 6-Min Walk Test.
  • No serious adverse events were reported in the study.
  • Tai Chi showed promise in enhancing both the physical and mental aspects of quality of life, as well as improving performance in the timed up and go test.

Statistics:

  • 980 participants were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis.
  • 17 randomized controlled trials were included in the study.
  • The weighted mean difference for the WOMAC pain score was -1.87.
  • The weighted mean difference for the WOMAC stiffness score was -0.62.
  • The weighted mean difference for the WOMAC physical function score was -10.33.
  • The weighted mean difference for the Short Form Health Survey physical component summary score was 3.17.

Sources:

  • Impact of Tai Chi on Physical and Mental Well-being in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2025;104(11):998-1006.
  • NewsRx. Reports Summarize Knee Osteoarthritis Findings from Yanan Liu and Co-Authors (Impact of Tai Chi on Physical and Mental Well-being in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis). Health & Medicine Week. October 31, 2025; p 4915.