Effect of Tai Ji Quan training on self-reported sleep quality in elderly Chinese women with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trail

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of a 24-week Tai Ji Quan training program on sleep quality, quality of life, and physical performance among elderly Chinese women with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods A 24-week randomized, controlled trial of 46 elderly women with knee OA. Participants were randomly assigned to either a Tai Ji Quan group ( n  = 23) or a control group ( n  = 23). Participants in the Tai Ji Quan group completed training sessions three times per week, while those in the control group had bi-weekly educational classes. The primary outcome was total score of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality of Index (PSQI). Secondary outcomes were: seven subscales of the PSQI; sleep latency; total sleep time; sleep efficiency; physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36); Berg Balance Scale (BBS); and Timed Up and Go (TUG). Results Compared with the control group, participants in the Tai Ji Quan group had significantly improved primary outcome (global PSQI score, p  = 0.006) and secondary outcomes, including three PSQI sub-scores (sleep latency, p  = 0.031; sleep duration, p  = 0.043; daytime dysfunction, p  = 0.007), total sleep time ( p  = 0.033), and SF-36 PCS ( p  = 0.006). The Tai Ji Quan group also had significant improvements compared with baseline in three PSQI sub-scores (sleep latency, p  = 0.031; habitual sleep efficiency, p  = 0.049; sleep disturbance, p  = 0.016), sleep latency ( p  = 0.003), BBS ( p  = 0.001), and TUG ( p  = 0.006). Conclusion Tai Ji Quan training is an effective treatment approach to improve sleep quality and quality of life in elderly Chinese women with knee OA. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (June 16, 2013): ChiCTR-TRC-13003264.