Remote Tai Chi for Knee Osteoarthritis
Remote Tai Chi for Knee Osteoarthritis: an Embedded Pragmatic Trial
People with knee osteoarthritis are offered twice-weekly online Tai Chi for three months to reduce knee pain and improve daily function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177915 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited through one of four health systems to join a pragmatic randomized program comparing twice-weekly 3-month web-based Tai Chi to routine care. Classes are delivered remotely so you can participate from home using an internet-connected device. Researchers will collect information on your knee pain, physical function, and how well the program can be used in routine clinical care. The trial is embedded in real-world clinics at Tufts Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, UCLA Health, and Cleveland Clinic to test scalability across regions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis who can join remote exercise sessions and have internet access, including older adults with common comorbidities.
Not a fit: People who recently had knee arthroplasty, have unstable or surgically limiting knee conditions, or lack internet access are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give people with knee OA a widely accessible, non-drug option to lower pain and improve mobility.
How similar studies have performed: Prior in-person trials and clinical guidelines support Tai Chi for knee OA, and small remote-delivery studies are promising though large pragmatic trials are limited.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Tufts Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Chenchen — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Wang, Chenchen
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.