Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To compare the effects of Tai Chi and balance and postural control training on spatiotemporal parameters and dual-task costs during stair negotiation in knee osteoarthritis participants. METHODS: Sixty-nine knee osteoarthritis participants were randomly assigned to either the Tai Chi group or the balance and postural control training group. All participants underwent interventions twice a week for 12 weeks. Pain scores, spatiotemporal parameters and dual-task costs during stair ascent and descent were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Both groups reported significant reductions in pain and improvements in spatiotemporal parameters following the intervention. The Tai Chi group exhibited a significantly greater reduction in initial double stance time during stair descent compared with the balance and posture control training group under both single-task (F = 8.177, p = 0.006, η(2) = 0.143) and dual-task (F = 5.007, p = 0.03, η(2) = 0.093) conditions. Meanwhile, the balance and posture control training group showed significant reductions in the dual-task cost values of cadence (p = 0.003) and speed (p = 0.038), although no significant between-group differences were observed. DISCUSSION: Both Tai Chi and balance and postural control training alleviated pain and improved spatiotemporal parameters during stair negotiation in participants with knee osteoarthritis. However, improvements in dual-task cost of cadence and speed were limited, potentially due to insufficient intervention or gait strategy adaptations. Only the balance and postural control group showed a significant reduction in dual-task cost during stair descent, indicating its advantage in maintaining stability under cognitive load. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR1800018028.