Introduction
Materials and methods
Literature research
Study selection
Level of evidence | |
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A | At least one meta-analysis, systematic review, or RCT rated as 1++, and directly applicable to the target population; or |
A systematic review of RCTs or a body of evidence consisting, principally, of studies rated as 1+, directly applicable to the target population, and demonstrating overall consistency of results | |
B | A body of evidence including studies rated 2++, directly applicable to the target population and demonstrating overall consistency of results; or |
Extrapolated evidence from studies rated as 1++ or 1+
| |
C | A body of evidence including studies rated 2+, directly applicable to the target population and demonstrating overall consistency of results; or |
Extrapolated evidence from studies rated as 2++
| |
D | Evidence level 3 or 4; or |
Extrapolated evidence from studies rated as 2+
|
Grades of recommendation | |
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1++
| High quality meta-analyses, systematic reviews of RCTs, or RCTs with a very low risk of bias |
1+
| Well conducted meta-analyses, systematic reviews of RCTs, or RCTs with a low risk of bias |
1−
| Meta-analyses, systematic reviews of RCTs, or RCTs with a high risk of bias |
2++
| High quality systematic reviews of case control or cohort or studies |
High quality case-control or cohort studies with a very low risk of confounding, bias, or chance and a high probability that the relationship is causal | |
2+
| Well conducted case-control or cohort studies with a low risk of confounding, bias, or chance and a moderate probability that the relationship is causal |
2−
| Case control or cohort studies with a high risk of confounding , bias, or chance and a significant risk that the relationship is not causal |
3 | Nonanalytic studies, e.g., case reports, case series |
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Results
Overview of previous reviews
Analysis of the psychological effects of Tai Chi practice
Study | Design | Level and grade of recommendation | Subjects | Sample size and age | Tai Chi style | Women | Dropout | Psychological measures | Statistical analysis | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brown et al. [37] | RCT | 1+B | 163 | TCC, n = 18; moderate-intensity walking, n = 24; low-intensity walking, n = 34; control, n = 31; men 50, 6 ± 8 years of age, women 54, 8 ± 8, 3 years of age | NI, 16 weeks, three times 45 min/week | 69 | 28 (17, 2%) | POMS, STAI-Y, STAXI, PANAS, RSES, SPED, BCS, LSES, NEO-PI | ANOVA | Women benefit more from TC in mood disturbances, whereas men reported increased positive affect in the moderate-intensity walking group |
Chou et al. [28] | RCT | 2+C | 14 | TCC, n = 7; control, n = 7, 72, 6 ± 4, 2 years of age | Yang style 18 movements, 12 weeks, three times 45 min/week | 7 | NI | CES-D, MMSE (inclusion) | ANOVA, MANOVA | Tai Chi was found to improve well-being and reduce negative effects |
Jin [38] | RCT | 1+B | 96 | TCC, n = 24, brisk walking, n = 24; meditation, n = 24; reading, n = 24; 34, 6 ± 8,8 years of age for the men; 37, 8 ± 10, 1 years of age for the women | Varied styles (Yang, Wu), two sessions of 2 h, experienced Tai Chi practitioners | 48 | NI | POMS, STAI-Y-A, urinary catecholamine, saliva cortisol, heart frequency, blood pressure | ANOVA, MANOVA, MANCOVA | The Tai Chi was found to be as efficient as brisk walking to reduce mental and emotional stress |
Kutner et al. [34] | RCT | 2++B | 200 Atlanta FICSIT trial | TCC, n = 72; balance, n = 64; wellness n = 64; 76, 2 years of age | Ten movements adapted from Yang style from Wolf [37], 15 weeks, 60 min/week | NI | 68 (34%) | Self-esteem, five scales of the SF36 | Odds ratio | The Tai Chi reported a reduction in the fear of falling and an improvement of well-being. Only the Tai Chi group showed a lifestyle change |
Li et al. [3] | RCT | 1+B | 98 | TCC, n = 49, 72, 8 ± 4,7 years of age; control, n = 45, 72, 7 ± 5, 7 years of age | 24 Movements of Yang style, 26 weeks, twice 60 min/week | NI | 26 (26, 5%) | The Tai Chi exercises self-efficacy (MacAuley and Milhalko, 1998), a specific time performance scale, session compliance | Intention to treat, latent curve analysis, ANOVA | The Tai Chi group was found to improve performance self-efficacy and barriers self-efficacy to physical activity. The increase of self-efficacy was positively correlated with adhesion to exercises |
Tsai et al. [29] | RCT | 2++B | 88 | TCC, n = 44, 50, 5 ± 9, 8 years of age; control, n = 44, 51, 6 ± 16, 3 years of age | Yang style, 12 weeks, three times 40 min/week | 38 | 12 (13, 6%) | Lipid profile, STAI-Y, blood pressure | Student test | Lower resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, reduction in LDL cholesterol and anxiety |
RCT, blind assessment | 1+B | 200 Atlanta FICSIT trial | TCC, n = 72; balance, n = 64; wellness n = 64; 76, 2 years of age | Ten movements adapted from Yang style from Wolf [33], 15 weeks, 60 min/week | 171 | 16% | CES-D, ADL, FOF, well-being and balance measures | ANOVA with Tukey correction, Cox hazard model | Psychological benefits for both Tai Chi and balance training in fear of falling and well-being. The Tai Chi group members were less afraid of falling | |
Zhang et al. [25] | RCT | 2++B | 49 | TCC, n = 25 and control, n = 24; 70, 2 ± 3, 6 years of age | 24 Movements from Yang style, 8 weeks, seven times 1 h/week | 24 | 2 | Interview, FES (Tinetti et al., 1990), OLS test, trunk flexion, 10 m walking speed | Ki2 and student test, ANOVA and repeated measure of variance. Power and sample size to detect a variation of 3.8 s at the one leg stance test | Tai Chi was found to reduce fear of falling, improve balance, and flexibility |
Study | Design | Level and grade of recommendation | Subjects | Sample size and age | Tai Chi style | Women | Dropout | Psychological measures | Statistical analysis | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baron et al. [26] | Prospective case control | 3C | 3 | Two boys and one girl, mean 13.3 years of age | Yang style, 3 weeks, twice 60 min/week, posttest at 2 weeks | 1 | NI | Conners scale, STAIC A-state, mood | Descriptive analysis | Reduction of hyperactivity for the female subject |
Hernandez-Reif et al. [30] | Case control | 2+C | 13 | Hyperactive children, 14.5 ± 1.5 years of age | Style NI, 5 weeks, twice 30 min/week, posttest a 2 weeks | 2 | NI | Conners scale | Student test | Significant reduction in hyperactivity symptoms, anxiety, and behavioral improvements |
Mills et al. [31] | Case control | 2−C | 12 | Patients with multiple sclerosis | Style NI, 8 weeks of interventions, with six short time training session | NI | 4 | POMS, multiple sclerosis symptoms list, OLS, ADL | ANOVA, student test, Ki2
| After 8 weeks, balance and autonomy level increased, whereas fatigue tended to reduce |
Ross et al. [32] | Quasi-experimental | 2+C | 17 | Older adults from 68 to 92 years of age | Style NI, 8 weeks, 60 min/week | 15 | 4 | MAACL-R, sit and reach test, balance and functionality measures | Student test | Tai Chi was found to reduce pain and improve balance and mood |
Schaller [36] | Quasi-experimental with allocation choose by patients | 2+C | 46 | Healthy older adults TCC n = 24, con n = 22, 70 ± 5.9 years of age | 20 Movements from Chih style, 10 weeks 60 min/week | NI | NI | SF36, POMS, OLS, flexibility testing and blood pressure | ANOVA, ANCOVA | Tai Chi was found to improve up to 50% the OLS score. No benefits were found on quality of life |
Wang et al. [17] | Case control | 2−C | 30 | Students, 24, 23 years of age | 24 Movements from Yang style, twice 60 min/week | 19 | NI | SF36, V2 | Student test | Significant improvement of vitality, emotional, and mental functions |