Tai Chi and Hip School for Patients With Hip-OA: a Randomized Controlled Trial With a 6 - and 12 Months Follow-up

A randomized, controlled study was conducted in southern Sweden with two intervention programs for individuals with X-ray-verified hip OA. The patients were randomized to 1 of 3 groups; namely Hip School, TCA, or a group receiving no intervention. A total of 89 subjects attended the baseline appointment and were randomized to one of the three groups. Physical function was assessed using, the Hip Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (HOOS, Swedish version L.K 1.1), an observational assessment of movements the Body Awareness Scale Movement Quality (BAS MQ) and the Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT). For assessment of HRQL the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used. The Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES) records the patient's self-reported judgment of what he/she can do regardless of the degree of functional limitations or skill. Six months after the final intervention all subjects were examined and assessed following the same procedure as at baseline. The 12 months follow-up contained the three questionnaires, HOOS, ASES and SF- 36 were sent out by mail. The results showed significant improvement in physical function and self-efficacy within the interventions groups Tai Chi and Hip School. The Tai Chi showed improvement in BAS MQ, focusing on body awareness and quality of movements, and in self-efficacy between baseline and 6- month follow-up. The Hip School group showed significant improvement in BAS MQ between baseline and 6-month follow-up.