Chungnam National University, College of Nursing, Daejeon, South Korea.
J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Mar;16(3):227-33. doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0165.
Individuals with osteoarthritis can experience difficulty walking and poor strength, possibly leading to falls and fractures. Exercise has been found to increase strength and bone mineral density. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 6 months of t'ai chi on knee muscle strength, bone mineral density, and fear of falling in older women with osteoarthritis.
Eighty-two (82) women with osteoarthritis, recruited from outpatient clinics and community health centers, were randomly assigned to either a t'ai chi group and took part in a t'ai chi program, or a control group. Of these, 30 subjects (mean age = 63 years) in the t'ai chi group and 35 (mean age = 61 years) in the control group completed post-test measures at 6 months.
After the 6-month study period, subjects in the t'ai chi program had significantly greater knee extensor endurance (pre- to post-test mean increase = 36.4 W/kg, versus 1.1 W/kg for the controls), and significantly greater bone mineral density in the neck of the proximal femur (mean change = 0.09, versus -0.10 for the controls), Ward's triangle (mean change = 0.04, versus -0.04 for the controls), and trochanter (mean change = 0.07, versus -0.05 for the controls) than the controls. However, knee extensor and flexor strength did not differ significantly between the groups. The fear of falling during daily activities reduced significantly more in the t'ai chi group (mean change = -2.40, versus 0.66 for the controls).
T'ai chi increased knee extensor muscle endurance and bone mineral density in older women with osteoarthritis, and decreased their fear of falling during daily activities. Further study with long-term follow-up is needed to substantiate the role of t'ai chi exercise in the prevention of fall and its related fracture.
骨关节炎患者可能会出现行走困难和力量减弱的情况，从而导致跌倒和骨折。运动已被证明可以增强力量和骨密度。本研究的目的是确定 6 个月的太极拳对老年女性骨关节炎患者的膝关节肌肉力量、骨密度和跌倒恐惧的影响。
82 名（82 名）骨关节炎患者从门诊和社区卫生中心招募，随机分为太极拳组和对照组。其中，太极拳组 30 名受试者（平均年龄=63 岁）和对照组 35 名（平均年龄=61 岁）在 6 个月时完成了测试。
在 6 个月的研究期结束后，太极拳组的膝关节伸肌耐力明显增加（前后测试平均增加=36.4 W/kg，而对照组为 1.1 W/kg），股骨颈、Ward 三角区和转子的骨密度也明显增加（平均变化=0.09，对照组为-0.10），（平均变化=0.04，对照组为-0.04），（平均变化=0.07，对照组为-0.05）。然而，膝关节伸肌和屈肌力量在两组之间没有显著差异。太极拳组日常活动中跌倒恐惧明显减少（平均变化=-2.40，对照组为 0.66）。
太极拳可增强老年女性骨关节炎患者膝关节伸肌耐力和骨密度，降低日常活动中的跌倒恐惧。需要进一步的长期随访研究来证实太极拳运动在预防跌倒及其相关骨折中的作用。
