Effects of tai chi on postural control during dual-task stair negotiation in knee osteoarthritis : a randomised controlled trial protocol

Wang, X; Hou, M; Chen, S; Yu, J; Qi, D; Zhang, Y; Chen, B; Xiong, F; Fu, S; Li, Z; Yang, F; Chang, A; Liu, A; Xie, X

Abstract

Stair ascent and descent require complex integration between sensory and motor systems; individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) have an elevated risk for falls and fall injuries, which may be in part due to poor dynamic postural control during locomotion. Tai chi exercise has been shown to reduce fall risks in the ageing population and is recommended as one of the non-pharmocological therapies for people with KOA. However, neuromuscular mechanisms underlying the benefits of tai chi for persons with KOA are not clearly understood. Postural control deficits in performing a primary motor task may be more pronounced when required to simultaneously attend to a cognitive task. This single-blind, parallel design randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the effects of a 12-week tai chi programme versus balance and postural control training on neuromechanical characteristics during dual-task stair negotiation. Sixty-six participants with KOA will be randomised into either tai chi or balance and postural control training, each at 60 min per session, twice weekly for 12 weeks. Assessed at baseline and 12 weeks (ie, postintervention), the primary outcomes are attention cost and dynamic postural stability during dual-task stair negotiation. Secondary outcomes include balance and proprioception, foot clearances, self-reported symptoms and function. A telephone follow-up to assess symptoms and function will be conducted at 20 weeks. The findings will help determine whether tai chi is beneficial on dynamic stability and in reducing fall risks in older adults with KOA patients in community. Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (#2018KY-006-1). Study findings will be disseminated through presentations at scientific conferences or publications in peer-reviewed journals. ChiCTR1800018028. [Abstract copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.]

Citation

Wang, X., Hou, M., Chen, S., Yu, J., Qi, D., Zhang, Y., …Xie, X. (2020). Effects of tai chi on postural control during dual-task stair negotiation in knee osteoarthritis : a randomised controlled trial protocol. BMJ Open, 10(1), e033230. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033230

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 3, 2019
• Publication Date: Jan 2, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jan 20, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 20, 2020
• Journal: BMJ Open
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 1
• Pages: e033230
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033230
• Keywords: balance intervention, dynamic stability, knee osteoarthritis, stair ascent, stair descent
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033230
• Related Public URLs: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** From PubMed via Jisc Publications Router **Journal IDs: eissn 2044-6055 **Article IDs: pubmed: 31900273; pii: bmjopen-2019-033230 **History: published 02-01-2020; Funders : National Natural Science Foundation of China;Fujian Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technology of China and Fujian provincial rehabilitation industrial institution of China; Grant Number: 81774384; Grant Number: 2015Y2001-55