OA KneeNCT07428343
Effects of Tai Chi Exercises on Patients Functional Status With Knee Osteoarthritis
A study testing Tai Chi training, Comprehensive Inpatient Physiotherapy with other standard therapies and Kinect-Based Virtual Reality Balance Training with Biofeedback in people with OA Knee, run by Grzegorz Mańko at 1 site in Poland.
Trial summary
Brief summary The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether Tai Chi exercise, used as an adjunct to standard physiotherapy, can improve balance, functional status, pain, and knee joint mobility in older adults (65-75 years) diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis), compared with standard… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 60 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- OA Knee
- What is being tested?
- Tai Chi training, Comprehensive Inpatient Physiotherapy with other standard therapies and Kinect-Based Virtual Reality Balance Training with Biofeedback
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 96 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePoland
- Study dates
- 9 May 2025to 13 Jun 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 60 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosed knee osteoarthritis
- Age between 60 and 80 years
Who cannot join
- Patients with significant knee joint effusion and excessive valgus or varus deformity of the knee joint
- Post-surgical status
- Patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 34
- Patients after knee joint surgery
- Patients with severe clinically significant comorbidities that could interfere with study outcomes
- Lack of patient consent to participate in the study, as well as non-compliance or diagnosed psychiatric disorders
- History of stroke and other neurological disorders
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Poland1 site
Department of Biomechanics and Kinesiology, Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College
Krakow, 31-066
About this study
Official title: Assessment of the Effects of Tai Chi Exercises on Balance and Functional Status in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis
Brief summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether Tai Chi exercise, used as an adjunct to standard physiotherapy, can improve balance, functional status, pain, and knee joint mobility in older adults (65-75 years) diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis), compared with standard physiotherapy alone and physiotherapy combined with virtual reality-based training.
Read more
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does adding Tai Chi to standard physiotherapy lead to greater improvements in static and dynamic balance (Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test) in patients with knee osteoarthritis?
Does Tai Chi result in superior improvements in pain intensity (VAS), functional status (WOMAC), and knee joint range of motion compared with standard physiotherapy and VR-based training?
Researchers will compare three intervention arms-standard physiotherapy, standard physiotherapy plus virtual reality (Kinect-based biofeedback training), and standard physiotherapy plus Tai Chi-to determine whether Tai Chi provides greater clinical and functional benefits than the other rehabilitation approaches.
Participants will:
Receive standard inpatient physiotherapy for knee osteoarthritis
Additionally perform one of the following interventions for 30 minutes daily over 4 weeks:
Tai Chi exercises led by a qualified therapist, focusing on balance, controlled movement, and pain-free execution
Virtual reality-based balance training using a Kinect system
Undergo assessments before and after the intervention period, including pain, balance, functional performance, and knee joint mobility measures
- Conditions
- OA Knee
- Being tested
- Tai Chi training, Comprehensive Inpatient Physiotherapy with other standard therapies, Kinect-Based Virtual Reality Balance Training with Biofeedback
- Keywords
- Osteoarthritis, older adults, functional indicators, fall risk, tai chi
- Medical subject headings
- Osteoarthritis, Knee, Osteoarthritis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Tai Chi trainingOther
In addition to standard therapy, instead of balance training, the participant performed Tai Chi exercises daily for 30 minutes under the supervision of a qualified therapist. The Tai Chi sessions emphasized balance in a variety of positions engaging the knee joint; the exercises were performed in smooth sequences combined with deep breathing. During the sessions, particular attention was paid to movement quality and the absence of pain during movement.
Comprehensive Inpatient Physiotherapy with other standard therapiesOther
who, as part of inpatient physiotherapy, underwent a comprehensive treatment program consisting of: manual therapy-20 minutes daily, including soft tissue techniques and mobilization of the knee joint-and physical therapy modalities including electrotherapy, laser therapy, magnetotherapy, and ultrasound therapy. The patients also performed balance-supporting exercises in the form of balance training, which included: balancing on sensorimotor cushions for 10 minutes in various directions, resistance exercises-leg press on a machine for 3 sets of 15-20 repetitions, semi-squats on sensorimotor cushions for 3 sets of 20 repetitions, and core stability exercises in the supine position for 10 minutes.
Kinect-Based Virtual Reality Balance Training with BiofeedbackOther
where, in addition to standard therapy, instead of conventional balance training, the group additionally received exercises using a Kinect-based system on the iStander device (Alreh Medical, Łódź, Poland), which enables safe and engaging therapy in a controlled virtual environment with the use of biofeedback. The exercises were delivered in the form of game-based activities for 30 minutes daily at a moderate level of difficulty.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Physiotherapy Combined with Tai Chi Balance Training | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Tai Chi training |
| Inpatient Physiotherapy with Manual Therapy, Physical Modalities, and Conventional Balance Training | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Comprehensive Inpatient Physiotherapy with other standard therapies |
| Standard Physiotherapy Combined with Kinect-Based Virtual Reality Balance Training | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Kinect-Based Virtual Reality Balance Training with Biofeedback |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Total score on the Berg Balance Scale.
Assessment of static and dynamic balance using a 14-item scale. The unit of measurement is points (range 0-56), where a higher score indicates better balance.
Measured: Baseline; Day 1 (09 May 2025) Final assessment: after 4 weeks (06 June 2025)
Score on the WOMAC questionnaire (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index).
Assessment of the severity of osteoarthritis symptoms (pain, stiffness, and physical function). The unit of measurement is points (sum of 24 items), where a higher score indicates poorer functional status and greater pain.
Measured: Baseline; Day 1 (09 May 2025) Final assessment: after 4 weeks (06 June 2025)
Time to complete the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.
Assessment of functional mobility and fall risk. The unit of measurement is time in seconds required to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, return, and sit down again.
Measured: Baseline; Day 1 (09 May 2025) Final assessment: after 4 weeks (06 June 2025)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Feb 2026
- Study start9 May 2025
- Primary completion13 Jun 2025
- Study completion13 Jun 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for OA KneeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Care provider, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 96 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Grzegorz Mańko
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Grzegorz Mańko, Scientific Association of Sports Researchers
- Investigators
- Grzegorz Mańko, PhD, Principal investigator, Department of Biomechanics and Kinesiology, Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07428343
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 118.0043.1.208.2025
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Assessment of the Effects of Tai Chi Exercises on Balance and Functional Status in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07428343
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 118.0043.1.208.2025
- Conditions
- OA Knee
- Keywords
- Osteoarthritis, older adults, functional indicators, fall risk, tai chi
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 96 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Grzegorz MańkoUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 9 May 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 13 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 13 Jun 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 23 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Brief summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether Tai Chi exercise, used as an adjunct to standard physiotherapy, can improve balance, functional status, pain, and knee joint mobility in older adults (65-75 years) diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis), compared with standard physiotherapy alone and physiotherapy combined with virtual reality-based training.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does adding Tai Chi to standard physiotherapy lead to greater improvements in static and dynamic balance (Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test) in patients with knee osteoarthritis?
Does Tai Chi result in superior improvements in pain intensity (VAS), functional status (WOMAC), and knee joint range of motion compared with standard physiotherapy and VR-based training?
Researchers will compare three intervention arms-standard physiotherapy, standard physiotherapy plus virtual reality (Kinect-based biofeedback training), and standard physiotherapy plus Tai Chi-to determine whether Tai Chi provides greater clinical and functional benefits than the other rehabilitation approaches.
Participants will:
Receive standard inpatient physiotherapy for knee osteoarthritis
Additionally perform one of the following interventions for 30 minutes daily over 4 weeks:
Tai Chi exercises led by a qualified therapist, focusing on balance, controlled movement, and pain-free execution
Virtual reality-based balance training using a Kinect system
Undergo assessments before and after the intervention period, including pain, balance, functional performance, and knee joint mobility measures
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (care provider, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Physiotherapy Combined with Tai Chi Balance Training | Experimental | Other: Tai Chi training |
| Inpatient Physiotherapy with Manual Therapy, Physical Modalities, and Conventional Balance Training | Active comparator | Other: Comprehensive Inpatient Physiotherapy with other standard therapies |
| Standard Physiotherapy Combined with Kinect-Based Virtual Reality Balance Training | Active comparator | Other: Kinect-Based Virtual Reality Balance Training with Biofeedback |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 60 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Diagnosed knee osteoarthritis
- Age between 60 and 80 years
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Patients with significant knee joint effusion and excessive valgus or varus deformity of the knee joint
- Post-surgical status
- Patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 34
- Patients after knee joint surgery
- Patients with severe clinically significant comorbidities that could interfere with study outcomes
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Tai Chi trainingIn addition to standard therapy, instead of balance training, the participant performed Tai Chi exercises daily for 30 minutes under the supervision of a qualified therapist. The Tai Chi sessions emphasized balance in a variety of positions engaging the knee joint; the exercises were performed in smooth sequences combined with deep breathing. During the sessions, particular attention was paid to movement quality and the absence of pain during movement. | Other | Standard Physiotherapy Combined with Tai Chi Balance Training |
| Comprehensive Inpatient Physiotherapy with other standard therapieswho, as part of inpatient physiotherapy, underwent a comprehensive treatment program consisting of: manual therapy-20 minutes daily, including soft tissue techniques and mobilization of the knee joint-and physical therapy modalities including electrotherapy, laser therapy, magnetotherapy, and ultrasound therapy. The patients also performed balance-supporting exercises in the form of balance training, which included: balancing on sensorimotor cushions for 10 minutes in various directions, resistance exercises-leg press on a machine for 3 sets of 15-20 repetitions, semi-squats on sensorimotor cushions for 3 sets of 20 repetitions, and core stability exercises in the supine position for 10 minutes. | Other | Inpatient Physiotherapy with Manual Therapy, Physical Modalities, and Conventional Balance Training |
| Kinect-Based Virtual Reality Balance Training with Biofeedbackwhere, in addition to standard therapy, instead of conventional balance training, the group additionally received exercises using a Kinect-based system on the iStander device (Alreh Medical, Łódź, Poland), which enables safe and engaging therapy in a controlled virtual environment with the use of biofeedback. The exercises were delivered in the form of game-based activities for 30 minutes daily at a moderate level of difficulty. | Other | Standard Physiotherapy Combined with Kinect-Based Virtual Reality Balance Training |
Primary outcome
Total score on the Berg Balance Scale.
Time frame: Baseline; Day 1 (09 May 2025) Final assessment: after 4 weeks (06 June 2025)
Assessment of static and dynamic balance using a 14-item scale. The unit of measurement is points (range 0-56), where a higher score indicates better balance.
Score on the WOMAC questionnaire (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index).
Time frame: Baseline; Day 1 (09 May 2025) Final assessment: after 4 weeks (06 June 2025)
Assessment of the severity of osteoarthritis symptoms (pain, stiffness, and physical function). The unit of measurement is points (sum of 24 items), where a higher score indicates poorer functional status and greater pain.
Time to complete the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.
Time frame: Baseline; Day 1 (09 May 2025) Final assessment: after 4 weeks (06 June 2025)
Assessment of functional mobility and fall risk. The unit of measurement is time in seconds required to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, return, and sit down again.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes
Related trials for OA Knee
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The Feasibility of a Virtual/Home-based OA Treatment Program in Older Adults With OA and Multimorbidity
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Exploring Factors Linked to Worsening Over Time in People With Early-stage Knee Osteoarthritis and Those With Prior Proven Acute Knee Injury.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Grzegorz Mańko, PhD principal investigator
Department of Biomechanics and Kinesiology, Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Tai Chi training, Comprehensive Inpatient Physiotherapy with other standard therapies and Kinect-Based Virtual Reality Balance Training with Biofeedback in people with OA Knee, run by Grzegorz Mańko at 1 site in Poland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Poland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Total score on the Berg Balance Scale. (time frame: Baseline; Day 1 (09 May 2025) Final assessment: after 4 weeks (06 June 2025)). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Feb 2026.