Citation

Li GY, Wang W, Liu GL, Zhang Y. J. Rehabil. Med. 2018; 50(7): 582-588.

Affiliation

Department of Rehabilitation, The Central Hospital of Xuhui District/Shanghai Clinical Center, 200031 Shanghai, China.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Foundation for Rehabilitation Information)

DOI

10.2340/16501977-2346

PMID

29736553

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of tai chi on balance and gait in stroke survivors.

METHODS: A systematic meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effects of tai chi on balance and gait in stroke survivors.

RESULTS: Five randomized controlled trials, with a total of 346 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. All of these studies had a high bias based on the Cochrane Collaboration recommendation, and a relatively small sample size. In the pooled analysis, the tai chi group exhibited a significantly better gait ability than the control group, as evaluated with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) (-0.26 [-0.50 to -0.03], p = 0.027; I2=0%, p = 0.682), but no significant difference in dynamic standing balance scores was found between tai chi and control groups (0.154 [-0.269 to 0.578], p = 0.475; I2=26.6%, p = 0.256).

CONCLUSION: Tai chi may be beneficial for stroke survivors with respect to gait ability in the short term, but further large, long-term randomized controlled trials with standard evaluation indicators are needed to confirm this conclusion.

Language: en