Mindful Exercise (Baduanjin) as an Adjuvant Treatment for Older Adults (60 Years Old and Over) of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

JiaJia Ye; Qikai Zheng; Liye Zou; Qian Yu; Nicola Veronese; Igor Grabovac; Sinisa Stefanac; Huey-Ming Tzeng; Jane Jie Yu

doi:10.1155/2020/9869161

Mindful Exercise (Baduanjin) as an Adjuvant Treatment for Older Adults (60 Years Old and Over) of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020 Jun 14:2020:9869161. doi: 10.1155/2020/9869161. eCollection 2020.

Authors

JiaJia Ye^{1

2

3}, Qikai Zheng⁴, Liye Zou⁵, Qian Yu⁵, Nicola Veronese⁶, Igor Grabovac⁷, Sinisa Stefanac⁷, Huey-Ming Tzeng⁸, Jane Jie Yu⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation Assessment, Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350000, China.
² Fujian Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technology, 13 Hudong Road, Fuzhou, Fujian 350000, China.
³ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
⁴ Department of Athletic Injury, Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350000, China.
⁵ Exercise and Mental Health Laboratory, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
⁶ National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute, Aging Branch, Padua, Italy.
⁷ Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
⁸ The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, School of Nursing, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
⁹ Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong 999077, China.

Abstract

Background: The postural stability is a major factor that helps prevent developing knee osteoarthritis with aging. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Baduanjin qigong on postural control and physical function in older adults with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: Fifty-six individuals over 60 years of age with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 28) or a control group (n = 28). Participants in the experimental group received a 12-week Baduanjin training, while those in the control group did not receive any additional physical exercise during the study period. The postural control was quantified by perimeter and ellipse area of center of pressure movement trajectory. The assessments were conducted three times (baseline, week 8, and week 12).

Results: The perimeter and ellipse area with both open- and closed-eyes conditions and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) function were significantly improved at week eight in the experimental group (p < 0.005). The ellipse area with open-eyes condition, WOMAC index, and stiffness and physical function domains were significantly decreased after the 12 weeks of Baduanjin training compared to the control group (p < 0.005). Only the perimeter area with both open- and closed-eyes conditions was not statistically significant at week 12 in the intervention group (p > 0.005).

Conclusions: Baduanjin is an effective and adjuvant therapy for older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Regular Baduanjin training can improve postural control and WOMAC function of old individuals with knee osteoarthritis. More advanced techniques and biopsychological measurements are required for further understanding of Baduanjin exercise in this population. The trial was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-16010042).