Effect On Plantar Pressure Of Innovative Tai Chi For Elderly Women With Knee Osteoarthritis During Walking

Objective: The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of a6-month Tai Chi program and wellness education on plantar pressure inelderly people with Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods:238female elderly volunteers in Yangpu District, ShanghaiCity, China were recruited. They were involved in medical examination.At last, seventy-one KOA patients were included in the study. They wererandomly assigned to two groups, named Tai Chi Group and Controlgroup. In Tai Chi group, the participants participated in6monthsinnovative tai chi rehabilitation program (60minutes per time, three timesper week). For participants in control group, attention control was given(wellness education) biweekly for6months. The participants will beasked to maintain their previous lifestyle, medicine, diet. Plantar loadsdata were collected using a Novel Pedar insole sensor system at comfortspeed and then analyzed. The gait is divided into four phases: double-legstance with diseased side forward (T1), one-leg stance with disease side(T2), double-leg stance with normal leg forward (T3), one-leg stance withnormal leg(T4). The Plantar pressure will be assessed at baseline,6months when the participants walk in a suitable condition.Results:1. In the Tai Chi group, a significant increment in the peakpressure (PP), maximal force (MF) and contact area (CA) of the diseaseside at T1, whereas no significant differences were observed in the wellness education group. Compared with the wellness education group,there is a significant increment in the Length (L), maximal force (MF),pressure-time integral (PTI) of the disease side at T1.In the Tai Chi group, a significant increment in the peak pressure(PP), maximal force (MF) and pressure-time integral (PTI) of the diseaseside at T1, whereas no significant differences were observed in thewellness education group. Compared with the wellness education group,there is a significant increment in the Length (L), maximal force (MF),peak pressure (PP) of the disease side at T1.2. In the Tai Chi group, a significant increment in the peak pressure(PP), maximal force (MF) and pressure-time integral (PTI) of the diseaseside at T2, whereas no significant differences were observed in thewellness education group. Compared with the wellness education group,there is a significant increment in the Length (L), peak pressure (PP),pressure-time integral (PTI) and contact area(CA) of the disease side atT2.3. In the Tai Chi group, a significant increment in the peak pressure(PP), maximal force(MF) and pressure-time integral (PTI) and contactarea(CA) of the normal side at T3, whereas no significant differenceswere observed in the wellness education group. Compared with thewellness education group, there is a significant increment in the peakpressure (PP), maximal force (MF) and pressure-time integral (PTI) of the normal side at T3.In the Tai Chi group, a significant increment in the peak pressure(PP), and pressure-time integral (PTI) of the diseased side at T3, whereasno significant differences were observed in the wellness education group.Compared with the wellness education group, there is a significantincrement in the maximal force (MF) and pressure-time integral (PTI) ofthe diseased side at T3.4. In the Tai Chi group, a significant increment in the peak pressure(PP), maximal force (MF) and pressure-time integral (PTI) of the normalside at T4, whereas no significant differences were observed in thewellness education group. Compared with the wellness education group,there is a significant increment in the peak pressure (PP), maximalforce(MF) and pressure-time integral (PTI) of the normal side at T4.Conclusion1. Peak pressure (PP), maximal force (MF) and Length (L) of thediseased side increase significantly after the intervention.2. Tai Chi may improves the motor ability of the normal side3. Tai Chi may improve physical condition and is suitable for elderlypeople.