. 2015 Jul 2;5(4):182–196. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2015.06.002

Table 6.

Qigong for OA of the knee.

Author/Year Country/Design	Participants	Intervention	Outcome assessment	Results	The risk of bias
Chen KW et al^¹⁴ 2008, USA (RCT) (Patient-blind) (Assessor-blind)	N = 112 Inclusion criteria: (1)diagnosis according to ACR criteria at least 6 months prior to evaluation, (2)physical examination before the study to confirm the diagnosis, (3) agreed to maintain a stable analgesic dose during study	EQT group (N = 60): (1) Two qigong therapists were invited to perform EQT in this study. (2) There is no standard procedure for EQT in the field. Control group (N = 52): (1) a sham healer to mimic EQT.	• Pain: McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ-SF) • Function: WOMAC; Time to walk a 15-m straight path; ROM when squatting down to the lowest position without pain • Others: the Spielberger State Trait; Anxiety Scale; the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; an adopted general mood index	• There are significant differences between healer 2 and the placebo group in reduced pain measured by MPQ (p < 0.05) and slightly reduced time for walking 15 m (p = 0.08) after treatment. • Differences in pain reduction are smaller between healer 1 and the placebo group (p = 0.09) and are not statistically significant for reduced time in walking 15 m (p = 0.35). • For psychological outcomes, no significant differences were found in depression or anxiety scales.	10/12 (High)
An B et al^³⁴ 2008, China (RCT)	N = 28 (diagnosis according to ACR criteria) Inclusion criteria: (1)symptoms at least 6 months before study, (2) no current exercise programe, (3) willingness to participate in the study	Baduanjin intervention (N = 14): (1) eight sections, and each section needs to be repeated 20 times. Control group (N = 14): (1) No intervention was undertaken for the control group.	• Pain: WOMAC pain scale • Function: WOMAC; SF-36; 6-MWT; ISKE	• Compared with the control group, the participants in the Baduanjin group had statistically significant improvements in percentage changes of the WOMAC pain subscale, the WOMAC stiffness subscale, 0.029), the WOMAC physical function subscale, 6-MWT, and Peak Torque of the ISKE. • The SF-36's General Health, Social Function, and Mental Health subscales had no significant changes between those in the Baduanjin and control groups.	5/12 (Low)
Lee HJ et al^³⁵ 2009, Korea (RCT) (Assessor-blind)	N = 41 Inclusion criteria: (1)K-L grade≧2 at least 6 months, (2) no current exercise programme, (3)age from 50 to 80 years.	T'ai chi (太極拳 tài jí quán) (N = 28): (1) 1 h, and repeated twice a week for eight weeks, (2) 18 movements, (3) focus on releasing tension in the physical body and mind acting in concert with breathing. Control (N = 13): (1) no intervention during the study period.	• Pain: No pain score. • Function: WOMAC; The 6-m walking test • Others: Short Form 36 (SF-36); Health Survey	• The T'ai chi group showed significant improvements in the total SF-36 score compared with the control group. • The T'ai chi group showed improvements in total WOMAC score compared with the control group. • In the 6-m walking test, the T'ai chi group spent significantly shorter times.	10/12 (High)

Author/Year
Country/Design

Participants

Intervention

Outcome assessment

Results

The risk of bias

Chen KW et al^¹⁴
2008, USA
(RCT)
(Patient-blind)
(Assessor-blind)

N = 112
Inclusion criteria:
(1)diagnosis according to ACR criteria at least 6 months prior to evaluation, (2)physical examination before the study to confirm the diagnosis, (3) agreed to maintain a stable analgesic dose during study

EQT group (N = 60):

(1)
Two qigong therapists were invited to perform EQT in this study.
(2)
There is no standard procedure for EQT in the field.

Control group (N = 52):

(1)
a sham healer to mimic EQT.

•
Pain:
McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ-SF)
•
Function:
WOMAC; Time to walk a 15-m straight path; ROM when squatting down to the lowest position without pain
•
Others:
the Spielberger State Trait; Anxiety Scale; the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; an adopted general mood index

•
There are significant differences between healer 2 and the placebo group in reduced pain measured by MPQ (p < 0.05) and slightly reduced time for walking 15 m (p = 0.08) after treatment.
•
Differences in pain reduction are smaller between healer 1 and the placebo group (p = 0.09) and are not statistically significant for reduced time in walking 15 m (p = 0.35).
•
For psychological outcomes, no significant differences were found in depression or anxiety scales.

10/12 (High)

An B et al^³⁴
2008, China
(RCT)

N = 28 (diagnosis according to ACR criteria)
Inclusion criteria:
(1)symptoms at least 6 months before study, (2) no current exercise programe, (3) willingness to participate in the study

Baduanjin intervention (N = 14):

(1)
eight sections, and each section needs to be repeated 20 times.

Control group (N = 14):

(1)
No intervention was undertaken for the control group.

•
Pain:
WOMAC pain scale
•
Function:
WOMAC; SF-36; 6-MWT; ISKE

•
Compared with the control group, the participants in the Baduanjin group had statistically significant improvements in percentage changes of the WOMAC pain subscale, the WOMAC stiffness subscale, 0.029), the WOMAC physical function subscale, 6-MWT, and Peak Torque of the ISKE.
•
The SF-36's General Health, Social Function, and Mental Health subscales had no significant changes between those in the Baduanjin and control groups.

5/12 (Low)

Lee HJ et al^³⁵
2009, Korea
(RCT)
(Assessor-blind)

N = 41
Inclusion criteria:
(1)K-L grade≧2 at least 6 months, (2) no current exercise programme, (3)age from 50 to 80 years.

T'ai chi (太極拳 tài jí quán) (N = 28):

(1)
1 h, and repeated twice a week for eight weeks,
(2)
18 movements,
(3)
focus on releasing tension in the physical body and mind acting in concert with breathing.

Control (N = 13):

(1)
no intervention during the study period.

•
Pain: No pain score.
•
Function:
WOMAC; The 6-m walking test
•
Others:
Short Form 36 (SF-36); Health Survey

•
The T'ai chi group showed significant improvements in the total SF-36 score compared with the control group.
•
The T'ai chi group showed improvements in total WOMAC score compared with the control group.
•
In the 6-m walking test, the T'ai chi group spent significantly shorter times.

10/12 (High)