Effects of Baduanjin(八段锦) Exercise on Knee Osteoarthritis:A One-Year Study

<正>Objectives:Knee osteoarthritis(OA) is a major cause of pain and functional limitation.Short-term Baduanjin(八段锦) exercise had been testified to be beneficial to the disease.This study conducted an initial assessment of the one-year Baduanjin exercise on knee OA.Methods:The recruited patients practiced Baduanjin at the community recreational center.Sessions were held for 30 min five times a week for one year.Knee pain, stiffness,physical disability,general health,knee extensors and flexors strength,and aerobic ability were measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC),the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36(SF-36),the 6-Minute Walk Test(6-MWT),and the Isokinetic Strength of the Knee Extensors and Flexors(ISKEF).Body mass index(BMI) was also calculated before and after the study period for comparison. Results:Twenty-eight patients signed the informed consent.Six patients withdrew from the trial.Twenty-two patients(29 knees) completed the one-year study.After one-year Baduanjin exercise,WOMAC pain(132.0±69.6 vs.56.2±67.6,P=0.000),stiffness(64.7±54.8 vs.22.3±34.6,P=0.000),and physical function subscales (386.1±275.8 vs.182.0±235.7,P=0.003);SF-36 body pain(45.7±20.0 vs.57.4±17.9,P=0.005),general health (50.5±20.0 vs.62.1±16.1,P=0.004),role emotional(64.4±26.1 vs.73.5±21.3,P=0.047),and health transition (3.3±1.0 vs.2.6±1.0,P=0.008);BMI(25.0±2.9 vs.24.4±2.9,P=0.032);6-MWT(565.7±94.6 vs.610.5±66.7, P=0.036);and ISKEF Peak Torque(the Knee Extensors:60.5±25.5 vs.76.8±31,P=0.000;the Knee Flexors: 29.3±15.9 vs.37.1±15.8,P=0.001) were significantly improved.No adverse effects resulted from the exercise. Conclusions:It suggested that the long-term Baduanjin could be a feasible and safe exercise option for knee OA.