Julia Zhu presenting “Development of self-directed online Tai Chi intervention for people with knee osteoarthritis” at the Graduate Colloquium
Julia Zhu is a physiotherapist and a PhD candidate at the Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, Department of Physiotherapy. Her vision is to help people with lower limb osteoarthritis (OA), a leading contributor to global disability, currently lacking access to effective exercise resources by improving their conditions through providing evidence-based digital interventions.
While evidence supports the effectiveness of Tai Chi for improving symptoms for individuals with OA, access to in-person Tai Chi classes may be difficult for many people due to logistical constraints and cost. To overcome accessibility barriers, a self-directed online Tai Chi intervention for OA is needed. Julia’s PhD research is centered on developing and evaluating an unsupervised online Tai Chi intervention (My Joint Tai Chi) in a clinical trial (RETREAT Trial). Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise that incorporates slow and gentle movements, relaxation, and mindfulness that is highly recommended in clinical guidelines as an exercise option.
By translating in-person Tai Chi to an online delivery format, Julia hopes there will be increased accessibility to this evidence-based exercise, allowing more people with OA to engage in the comfort of their homes without time or cost constraints. The My Joint Tai Chi program will be released for free to the public once the clinical trial evaluation is completed. It is envisioned that this initiative will foster a positive impact on the physical activity level and overall well-being of a broader demographic, including people with or without OA, in the community at large.