Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07428343

Effects of Tai Chi Exercises on Patients Functional Status With Knee Osteoarthritis

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether Tai Chi exercise, used as an adjunct to standard physiotherapy, can improve balance, functional status, pain, and knee joint mobility in older adults (65-75 years) diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis), compared with standard physiotherapy alone and physiotherapy combined with virtual reality-based training.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does adding Tai Chi to standard physiotherapy lead to greater improvements in static and dynamic balance (Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test) in patients with knee osteoarthritis?

Does Tai Chi result in superior improvements in pain intensity (VAS), functional status (WOMAC), and knee joint range of motion compared with standard physiotherapy and VR-based training?

Researchers will compare three intervention arms-standard physiotherapy, standard physiotherapy plus virtual reality (Kinect-based biofeedback training), and standard physiotherapy plus Tai Chi-to determine whether Tai Chi provides greater clinical and functional benefits than the other rehabilitation approaches.

Participants will:

Receive standard inpatient physiotherapy for knee osteoarthritis

Additionally perform one of the following interventions for 30 minutes daily over 4 weeks:

Tai Chi exercises led by a qualified therapist, focusing on balance, controlled movement, and pain-free execution

Virtual reality-based balance training using a Kinect system

Undergo assessments before and after the intervention period, including pain, balance, functional performance, and knee joint mobility measures

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

OA Knee Arthritis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis, Knee Rheumatic Diseases

Age range

60 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Department of Biomechanics and Kinesiology, Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College

Krakow, 31-066, Poland

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosed knee osteoarthritis
  • Age between 60 and 80 years

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with significant knee joint effusion and excessive valgus or varus deformity of the knee joint
  • Post-surgical status
  • Patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 34
  • Patients after knee joint surgery
  • Patients with severe clinically significant comorbidities that could interfere with study outcomes
  • Lack of patient consent to participate in the study, as well as non-compliance or diagnosed psychiatric disorders
  • History of stroke and other neurological disorders

Treatment and study plan

Tai Chi training

Other

In addition to standard therapy, instead of balance training, the participant performed Tai Chi exercises daily for 30 minutes under the supervision of a qualified therapist. The Tai Chi sessions emphasized balance in a variety of positions engaging the knee joint; the exercises were performed in smooth sequences combined with deep breathing. During the sessions, particular attention was paid to movement quality and the absence of pain during movement.

Comprehensive Inpatient Physiotherapy with other standard therapies

Other

who, as part of inpatient physiotherapy, underwent a comprehensive treatment program consisting of: manual therapy-20 minutes daily, including soft tissue techniques and mobilization of the knee joint-and physical therapy modalities including electrotherapy, laser therapy, magnetotherapy, and ultrasound therapy. The patients also performed balance-supporting exercises in the form of balance training, which included: balancing on sensorimotor cushions for 10 minutes in various directions, resistance exercises-leg press on a machine for 3 sets of 15-20 repetitions, semi-squats on sensorimotor cushions for 3 sets of 20 repetitions, and core stability exercises in the supine position for 10 minutes.

Kinect-Based Virtual Reality Balance Training with Biofeedback

Other

where, in addition to standard therapy, instead of conventional balance training, the group additionally received exercises using a Kinect-based system on the iStander device (Alreh Medical, Łódź, Poland), which enables safe and engaging therapy in a controlled virtual environment with the use of biofeedback. The exercises were delivered in the form of game-based activities for 30 minutes daily at a moderate level of difficulty.

Primary outcomes

  1. Total score on the Berg Balance Scale.

    Time frame: Baseline; Day 1 (09 May 2025) Final assessment: after 4 weeks (06 June 2025)

    Assessment of static and dynamic balance using a 14-item scale. The unit of measurement is points (range 0-56), where a higher score indicates better balance.

  2. Score on the WOMAC questionnaire (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index).

    Time frame: Baseline; Day 1 (09 May 2025) Final assessment: after 4 weeks (06 June 2025)

    Assessment of the severity of osteoarthritis symptoms (pain, stiffness, and physical function). The unit of measurement is points (sum of 24 items), where a higher score indicates poorer functional status and greater pain.

  3. Time to complete the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.

    Time frame: Baseline; Day 1 (09 May 2025) Final assessment: after 4 weeks (06 June 2025)

    Assessment of functional mobility and fall risk. The unit of measurement is time in seconds required to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, return, and sit down again.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Grzegorz Mańko

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Assessment of the Effects of Tai Chi Exercises on Balance and Functional Status in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Feb 23, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 23, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.