TY - JOUR PY - 2018// TI - Effects of tai chi on balance and gait in stroke survivors: a systematic meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials JO - Journal of rehabilitation medicine A1 - Li, Gai Yan A1 - Wang, Wei A1 - Liu, Gong Liang A1 - Zhang, Ying SP - 582 EP - 588 VL - 50 IS - 7 N2 - 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

LA - en SN - 1650-1977 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2346 ID - ref1 ER -