Proposal and validation of a new approach in tele-rehabilitation with 3D human posture estimation: a randomized controlled trial in older individuals with sarcopenia.

OBJECTIVE: Through a randomized controlled trial on older adults with sarcopenia, this study compared the training effects of an AI-based remote training group using deep learning-based 3D human pose estimation technology with those of a face-to-face traditional training group and a general remote training group. METHODS: Seventy five older adults with sarcopenia aged 60-75 from community organizations in Changchun city were randomly divided into a face-to-face traditional training group (TRHG), a general remote training group (GTHG), and an AI-based remote training group (AITHG). All groups underwent a 3-month program consisting of 24-form Taichi exercises, with a frequency of 3 sessions per week and each session lasting 40 min. The participants underwent Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (ASMI), grip strength, 6-meter walking pace, Timed Up and Go test (TUGT), and quality of life score (QoL) tests before the experiment, during the mid-term, and after the experiment. This study used SPSS26.0 software to perform one-way ANOVA and repeated measures ANOVA tests to compare the differences among the three groups. A significance level of p < 0.05 was defined as having significant difference, while p < 0.01 was defined as having a highly significant difference. RESULTS: (1) The comparison between the mid-term and pre-term indicators showed that TRHG experienced significant improvements in ASMI, 6-meter walking pace, and QoL (p < 0.01), and a significant improvement in TUGT timing test (p < 0.05); GTHG experienced extremely significant improvements in 6-meter walking pace and QoL (p < 0.01); AITHG experienced extremely significant improvements in ASMI, 6-meter walking pace, and QoL (p < 0.01), and a significant improvement in TUGT timing test (p < 0.05). (2) The comparison between the post-term and pre-term indicators showed that TRHG experienced extremely significant improvements in TUGT timing test (p < 0.01); GTHG experienced significant improvements in ASMI and TUGT timing test (p < 0.05); and AITHG experienced extremely significant improvements in TUGT timing test (p < 0.01). (3) During the mid-term, there was no significant difference among the groups in all tests (p > 0.05). The same was in post-term tests (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared to the pre-experiment, there was no significant difference at the post- experiment in the recovery effects on the muscle quality, physical activity ability, and life quality of patients with sarcopenia between the AI-based remote training group and the face-to-face traditional training group. 3D pose estimation is equally as effective as traditional rehabilitation methods in enhancing muscle quality, functionality and life quality in older adults with sarcopenia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05767710).

Stress reduction through taiji: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: In light of the mounting prevalence of stress in contemporary society and the growing interest in stress reduction methods, this review investigates the potential of taiji as a viable strategy for alleviating stress. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL), PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched up to April 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials of taiji. Studies in both patients and healthy populations were considered. They had to provide a measure of perceived stress and include a no treatment or placebo control group. Data were extracted by two reviewers. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated for perceived stress, biological stress markers, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QoL). Meta-regression analyses were performed to identify sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Eleven trials with a total of 1323 patients comparing taiji to no intervention met the inclusion criteria. The included studies varied strongly with regard to patient characteristics, taiji intervention, and methodological quality. The overall SMD for perceived stress was significant at -0.41 (95% confidence interval, CI, -0.63 to -0.19; I2 = 63%). Exclusion of studies with less than 100 participants yielded a diminished SMD at -0.26 (95% CI, -0.45 to -0.06). The SMD for perceived stress at follow-up was significant (-0.25, 95% CI -0.46 to -0.05). Secondary outcomes highlighted improvements in anxiety and physical QoL, while depression, mental QoL, and biological stress markers remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Results underscore taiji's potential in mitigating perceived stress in both patients and healthy populations, paralleled by enhancements in depressive symptoms, anxiety levels, and physical QoL.

Complementary and Integrative Medicine in Treating Headaches, Cognitive Dysfunction, Mental Fatigue, Insomnia, and Mood Disorders Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Comprehensive Review.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex condition associated with a range of persistent symptoms including headaches, cognitive dysfunction, mental fatigue, insomnia, and mood disorders. Conventional treatments for TBI-related symptoms can be insufficient, leading to interest in complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) approaches. This comprehensive article examines the existing literature on CIM modalities, including mind-body interventions, acupuncture/acupressure, herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, biofeedback, yoga, and tai chi in the context of managing secondary complications following TBI. The article highlights potential benefits and limitations of CIM modalities, while acknowledging the need for further research to better establish efficacy and safety in this specific population.

Effects of a Tai Chi rehabilitation program implemented using a hybrid online and offline mode on oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in patients with coronary heart disease: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in both developed and many developing countries. Exercise training is a fundamental component of cardiac rehabilitation programs for patients with CHD. This study aims to investigate the effects of a Tai Chi rehabilitation program, which is provided through a hybrid online and offline mode, on oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in patients with CHD. Methods: A total of 34 patients with coronary heart disease were randomly assigned to two groups: an experiment group (n = 14, age 62.07 ± 9.076 years) and a control group (n = 20, age 61.90 ± 9.700 years). The experiment group underwent a 12-week Tai Chi cardiac rehabilitation program (TCCRP), while the control group followed a conventional exercise rehabilitation program (CERP) consisting of 1-h sessions, 3 times per week, for a total of 36 sessions. Participants were studied at baseline and post-intervention. The main assessments include the levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and Interleukin-10 (IL - 10) in blood samples. Pearson correlation analysis was used, and the differences between the two groups were subsequently tested using two-way repeated ANOVA. Statistical significance was defined as a two-sided p-value of <0.05. Results: The key finding of the study reveals that MDA was significantly reduced by 1.027 nmoL/mL. Additionally, the TCCRP showed significant improvements in SOD and IL-10, with values of 10.110 U/mL and 2.441 pg./mL, respectively. Notably, a significant positive correlation was found between SOD and IL-10 (r = 0.689, p = 0.006), while MDA showed a significant positive correlation with TNF-a (r = 0.542, p = 0.045). In contrast, the ECRP group only showed a significant improvement in SOD. Conclusion: The study conducted a 12-week program on TCCRP, which utilized a hybrid online and offline model for individuals with coronary heart disease. The program showed promising results in alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation, possibly by regulating the balance between oxidative and antioxidative factors, as well as pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors.

Tai Chi-Induced Exosomal LRP1 is Associated With Memory Function and Hippocampus Plasticity in aMCI Patients.

OBJECTIVES: The study was designed to identify the potential peripheral processes of circulating exosome in response to Tai Chi (TC) exercise and the possibility of its loaded cargos in mediating the effects of TC training on cognitive function among older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a multicenter randomized controlled trial. One hundred community-dwelling old adults with aMCI were randomly assigned (1:1) to experimental (n = 50) and control groups (n = 50). INTERVENTION: The experimental group participated in TC exercise 5 times/week, with each session lasting 60 minutes for 12 weeks. Both experimental and control groups received health education every 4 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was global cognitive function. Neurocognitive assessments, MRI examination, and large-scale proteomics analysis of peripheric exosome were conducted at baseline and after 12-week training. Outcome assessors and statisticians were blinded to group allocation. RESULTS: A total of 96 participants (96%) completed all outcome measurements. TC training improved global cognitive function (adjusted mean difference [MD] = 1.9, 95%CI 0.93-2.87, p <0.001) and memory (adjusted MD = 6.42, 95%CI 2.09-10.74, p = 0.004), increased right hippocampus volume (adjusted MD = 88.52, 95%CI 13.63-163.4, p = 0.021), and enhanced rest state functional connectivity (rsFC) between hippocampus and cuneus, which mediated the group effect on global cognitive function (bootstrapping CIs: [0.0208, 1.2826], [0.0689, 1.2211]) and verbal delay recall (bootstrapping CI: [0.0002, 0.6277]). Simultaneously, 24 differentially expressed exosomal proteins were detected in tandem mass tag-labelling proteomic analysis. Of which, the candidate protein low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) was further confirmed by parallel reaction monitoring and ELISA. Moreover, the up-regulated LRP1 was both positively associated with verbal delay recall and rsFC (left hippocampus-right cuneus). CONCLUSION: TC promotes LRP1 release via exosome, which was associated with enhanced memory function and hippocampus plasticity in aMCI patients. Our findings provided an insight into potential therapeutic neurobiological targets focusing on peripheric exosome in respond to TC exercise.

Effects of combined resistance training and Tai Chi on oxidative stress, blood glucose and lipid metabolism and quality of life in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

This study examined the effects of resistance training (RT), Tai Chi (TC) and combination intervention (RT & TC) on the oxidative stress, blood glucose and lipid metabolism and quality of life of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Ninety-four elderly patients with T2DM were randomly divided into an RT group (RTG, n = 23), TC group (TCG, n = 24), combination intervention group (CIG, n = 24) and control group (CG, n = 23). All participants were given nutrition and medication. On this basis, RTG, TCG and CIG were administered for 24 weeks (3 times/week, 40 minutes/time). Observation indicators were malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and diabetes specific quality of life (DSQL). RT, TC and joint intervention can reduce the oxidative stress damage on elderly patients with T2DM to different degrees, control the levels of blood sugar and blood lipid and improve the quality of life. Compared with single intervention, combination intervention can further reduce the level of oxidative stress but has no additional benefits on blood glucose and lipid control and quality of life.

Tai Chi Chuan evidence related to impulsivity and impulse related disorders: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to review the evidence for the potential of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) as a model of meditative movement in benefiting people with impulsivity related disorders and provide guidance for future research. METHODS: A scoping review of the literature was conducted in five databases. Eligibility criteria were original articles reporting TCC based interventions or included TCC techniques and provided any assessment on impulsivity or related measures, impulse control disorders, or other psychiatric disorders related to impulsivity (e.g., addictive disorders, ADHD, and other conduct disorders). Twenty-eight out of 304 studies initially retrieved were reviewed. The reports concentrated mostly on neurodegenerative conditions, cognitive decline, and substance use disorders (SUD). RESULTS: TCC had several positive effects in cognitive domains resulting in improvements in memory, executive functions, inhibitory control, attention, and verbal fluency. These improvements in memory, executive function, including inhibitory control and attention, and verbal fluency were associated with changes in the brain plasticity, resting activity, and other neurobiological markers. CONCLUSION: Albeit no study was found on the use of TCC in impulse control disorders or impulse related conditions, other than SUD, the findings suggest that considering the behavioral impact of TCC, especially the improvement of executive functions, it could be a valuable therapeutic tool for approaching impulse control related disorders.

Tai Chi and Aerobic Exercise on Cancer-Related Dyspnea in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

CONTEXT: Dyspnea, a prevalent and debilitating symptom in patients with advanced lung cancer, negatively affects symptom burden and prognosis. Physical activity has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for managing dyspnea. OBJECTIVES: This study compared the effectiveness of two widely-recognized physical activity modalities, namely Tai Chi (TC) and aerobic exercise (AE) for treating dyspnea in patients with advanced lung cancer. METHODS: Patients with advanced lung cancer (n=226) were randomized into TC, AE, or control groups. There was no baseline dyspnea requirement for patients. The AE group received two 60-minute supervised sessions and home-based exercises per month, the TC group received 60-minute sessions twice weekly, and the control group received exercise guidelines for 16 weeks. The primary outcome (sleep quality) of the study has been previously reported. In this secondary analysis, we focused on dyspnea outcomes, including overall and lung cancer-specific dyspnea. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T0), 16 weeks (T1), and one year (T2). RESULTS: Compared to the control group, TC significantly improved overall dyspnea at T1 (between-group difference, -8.69; P=0.03) and T2 (between-group difference, -11.45; P=0.01), but not AE. Both AE (between-group difference, -11.04; P=0.01) and TC (between-group difference, -14.19; P<0.001) significantly alleviated lung cancer-specific dyspnea at T2 compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Both TC and AE alleviate dyspnea severity in patients with advanced lung cancer, and continuous exercise can yield substantial improvements. Due to its multi-component nature, Tai Chi has a greater effect on dyspnea.

Effects of sedentary behaviour and long-term regular Tai Chi exercise on dynamic stability control during gait initiation in older women.

Background: Sedentary behaviour has been associated with an increased risk of falls among older adults. Although gait initiation (GI) is a promising tool used to assess fall risk, it has yet to be quantitatively evaluated for dynamic stability in sedentary populations. Tai Chi exercise is believed to be effective in preventing falls in older adults, but its effect on GI stability has not been quantified. This study aims to compare the stability of GI in sedentary older individuals versus those who are long-term Tai Chi exercisers by using a quantitative approach. Methods: This study included 17 sedentary older women without exercise habits (age: 65.59 ± 3.66 years, average daily sitting time: 8.735 ± 1.847 h/day) and 19 older women who regularly engage in Tai Chi exercise (age: 65.58 ± 3.63 years, years of exercise: 9.84 ± 3.48 years). Every participant underwent five trials of self-paced GI walking tests. Eight cameras and four force plates were used to obtain kinematic and kinetic parameters. The trajectory of the centre of mass (CoM) and the position of the foot placement were recorded. The anterior-posterior (A-P) and medio-lateral (M-L) dynamic stability at the onset and end moments of the single-legged support was calculated using CoM and gait spatiotemporal parameters. The stepping dynamic stability and foot placement positions of both groups were compared. Results: The Tai Chi group had greater stability in the M-L directions at the swing leg's toe-off moment and in the M-L and A-P directions at the heel-strike moment, as well as significantly larger step length, step width and step speed during locomotion than sedentary older women. However, the stability in the A-P directions at the swing leg's toe-off moment and the foot inclination angle was not statistically different between the two groups. Conclusion: Long-term regular Tai Chi exercise can enhance the dynamic stability of GI in older women, and effectively improve their foot placement strategy during GI. The findings further confirm the negative effect of sedentary on the stability control of older women and the positive role of Tai Chi in enhancing their gait stability and reducing the risk of falls.

A Phenomenological Qualitative Exploration of Mind-Body Therapy Use and Effectiveness Among Young, Middle, and Older Adult Cancer Survivors.

BACKGROUND: Having been diagnosed with and treated for cancer can have negative psychosocial repercussions that may differ across the lifespan. Mind-body therapies (MBTs), such as tai-chi/qigong (TCQ) or mindfulness-based cancer recovery (MBCR), have shown promise in decreasing negative psychosocial outcomes in cancer survivors, but few studies have explored potential differences in MBT use and effectiveness across age groups. METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological qualitative design was used. Participants included young (18-39), middle (40-64), and older (65+) adult cancer survivors who were diagnosed with any type of cancer and had participated in Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) or Tai Chi/Qigong (TCQ) MBTs. Semi-structured qualitative interviews explored participants' experiences in MBTs and these were analyzed using descriptive phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Among the interviews (n = 18), young (n = 6), middle-aged (n = 8), and older (n = 4) adults participated. 5 themes emerged: influences in joining the program, unique lifestyles, positive class experiences, use of media, and program impacts. Though all age groups benefitted from MBT participation, variations between age groups with respect to the benefits received and motivations for joining the program were observed. DISCUSSION: MBTs had beneficial physical and mental health effects on survivors of all age groups. These benefits were particularly connected to the ongoing life stresses common to each age cohort, such as relief from work and family roles for young adults or support during retirement transition for older adults. Hence, access to MBT programs may be beneficial as part of the survivorship plan for patients and the recruitment strategies or content can be adapted by MBT providers to better target and support age-specific groups. More research is required with a larger sample.

Comparative effect of Tai Chi and aerobic exercise on cognitive function in advanced lung cancer survivors with perceived cognitive impairment: a three-arm randomized controlled trial with mediation analysis.

PURPOSE: Cancer-related cognitive impairment is prevalent in metastatic lung cancer survivors. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of aerobic exercise and Tai Chi on perceived cognitive function and the mediating role of psychoneurological symptoms with perceived cognitive impairment. METHODS: In a subgroup of a parent randomized clinical trial, participants who reported cognitive impairment underwent a 16-week aerobic exercise (n = 49), Tai Chi (n = 48), and control (n = 54) groups. Measures included perceived cognitive function and psychoneurological symptoms (sleep disturbance, fatigue, anxiety, and depression) assessed at baseline (T0), 16-week (T1), and 1 year (T2). RESULTS: Participants in Tai Chi showed significant improvements compared to aerobic exercise and control groups in perceived cognitive function at T1 (AE: between-group difference, 6.52; P < 0.001; CG: 8.34; P < 0.001) and T2 (AE: between-group difference, 3.55; P = 0.05; CG: 5.94; P < 0.001). Sleep disturbance, fatigue, anxiety, and depression at month 12 explained 24%, 31%, 32%, and 24% of the effect of the intervention on cognitive function at month 12, respectively. Only anxiety at month 4 explained 23% of the intervention effect at month 12. CONCLUSIONS: Tai Chi demonstrated beneficial effects on cognitive function in advanced lung cancer survivors with perceived cognitive impairment. Improvement in cognitive function was mediated by reducing sleep disturbance, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, highlighting the importance of addressing these symptoms in future interventions to improve cognitive function, with anxiety playing a significant role at an earlier stage. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Tai Chi is a potentially safe complementary therapeutic option for managing cognitive impairment in this vulnerable population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04119778; retrospectively registered on 8 October 2019.

Effects of three-duration Tai-Chi exercises on depression and sleep quality in older women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the effects of 24 weeks of three-duration Tai-Chi (TC) practice on depression and sleep quality in older women. METHODS: A total of 124 older women were randomly divided into four groups: short-time group (SG, n = 31, mean age: 65.3), medium-time group (MG, n = 30, mean age: 65.7), long-time group (LG, n = 32, mean age: 64.9) and control group (CG, n = 31, mean age: 66.2). The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were measured. RESULTS: 1) Within-group comparisons: Compared with the baseline, the 12th and 24th weeks showed reductions in TNF-α and IL-6 levels and increase in 5-HT level in the SG, MG and LG (p < 0.05). The LG at the 24th week had reduced BDI and PSQI scores (p < 0.05). Compared with the 12th week, the 24th week showed reductions in TNF-α and IL-6 levels (p < 0.01) and increase in 5-HT level (p < 0.05) in the SG, MG, and LG. 2) Between-group comparisons: The SG, MG, and LG had lower TNF-α and IL-6 levels and higher 5-HT level than the CG at 12th and 24th weeks (p < 0.05). At the 24th week, the LG had lower BDI and PSQI scores than the CG and lower TNF-α level than the SG and MG (p < 0.05). The MG had lower TNF-α levels than the SG in the 24th week (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that older individuals may undertake at least 12 weeks of TC exercise with a duration of 60 min per session to significantly improve depressive mood and sleep quality.

Tai Chi compared with cognitive behavioral therapy and the reversal of systemic, cellular and genomic markers of inflammation in breast cancer survivors with insomnia: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Insomnia contributes to inflammation in breast cancer survivors. This study evaluates whether insomnia treatment reverses inflammation in breast cancer survivors with insomnia. METHODS: Participants (n = 90) were randomized to 3 months of Tai Chi (n = 45) or cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)(n = 45), and followed for one year post-intervention to 15 month endpoint. Our previous report found that Tai Chi as compared to CBT-I resulted in similar rates of insomnia response and remission over 15 months. Here, we analyze changes in plasma C-reactive protein and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 stimulated monocyte production of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF), and cellular pro-inflammatory and anti-viral gene expression (Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity RNA profile; CTRA) over 15 months. RESULTS: Insomnia treatment resulted in decreases in the TLR-4 stimulated monocyte production of IL-6, TNF, and their co-expression, as well as decreases in the CTRA profile, decreases inflammatory gene transcripts, and increases in anti-viral gene transcripts over 15 months (all P's < 0.01). In addition, as compared to CBT-I, Tai Chi resulted in greater decreases in plasma IL-6 (P < 0.05), and greater decreases in TLR-4 activated monocyte production of IL-6 and co-expression of IL-6 and TNF at 15 month endpoint. CBT-I resulted in greater increases in anti-viral gene transcripts. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of either CBT-I or Tai Chi effectively treats insomnia, and shows additional benefits of reducing cellular and genomic markers of inflammation, and increasing anti-viral genomic markers in breast cancer survivors with insomnia. Tai Chi, as compared to CBT-I, yields greater and more durable decreases in systemic- and cellular inflammation. Targeting insomnia might mitigate the risk of inflammation-related co-morbidities in breast cancer survivors.

Optimal Tai Chi forms in knee osteoarthritis: An exploration from biomechanical rationale to pain reduction.

Objectives: Tai Chi (TC) shows some beneficial effects in reducing pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, the selection of criteria TC forms in previous studies were unclear and inconsistent, possibly accounting for the varying outcomes and rendering the training effects suboptimal. We have selected four optimal TC (OTC) forms based on the knee joint load and its association with pain. This pilot study sought to examine the effect of the OTC forms on reducing knee pain in individuals with knee OA. Methods: Fifteen knee OA participants were recruited. Their knee joint pain level was rated by using the Visual Analogue Scale before and after two weeks of OTC training and compared between these two assessments. Results: The two-week OTC training course was well accepted by our participants. The knee OA pain showed a significant reduction (median pain score: 5 â€‹cm before training and 1 â€‹cm post-training, Wilcoxon p â€‹< â€‹0.001) after the two-week training program. Conclusions: Our pilot results revealed that the 2-week four-form-based OTC program could significantly reduce the knee pain level in people with knee OA. Additionally, our OTC program appears to be about 50% more effective in reducing knee pain than the existing TC-based program, which uses 10 â€‹TC forms over 12 weeks (1.59 vs. 1.06 in Hedge's g). The findings in this study may inform the development of OTC-based knee pain reduction programs and the design of relevant clinical trials to establish OTC's effectiveness, safety, and dose-response relationship in easing knee OA pain.

The effects of Tai Chi Rouli ball exercise on bone mineral content and bone metabolism indicators in perimenopausal women.

Background Perimenopause is associated with a decline in estrogen levels, leading to decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and altered bone metabolism, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. Tai Chi Rouli Ball, a traditional Chinese sport, is thought to have beneficial effects on physical health, but its impact on bone health in perimenopausal women is not well understood. Methods This study involved a randomized controlled trial with 52 perimenopausal women aged 45-55 years from community senior centers. Participants were divided into two groups: the Tai Chi Rouli Ball group and the control group. Baseline assessments of bone density, bone mineral content (BMC), and bone metabolism markers, including estrogen levels, were conducted. The Tai Chi Rouli Ball group underwent regular training for a specific period, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Post-experiment assessments were then compared to the baseline. Results Post-intervention, the Tai Chi Rouli Ball group showed a significant increase in spine bone density and BMC in various body parts, including the whole body, trunk/torso, and spine, compared to the control group. Bone metabolism indicators also improved, with increased levels of estrogen and a decrease in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Calcium levels showed a significant increase, while other markers like alkaline phosphatase (ALP), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) had non-significant changes. Conclusions Tai Chi Rouli Ball exercise may positively influence bone health by improving bone density, BMC, and altering bone metabolism markers in perimenopausal women. These findings suggest that Tai Chi Rouli Ball could be a viable non-pharmacological approach to prevent osteoporosis in this demographic.

Effectiveness of Tai Chi as a non-invasive intervention for mild cognitive impairment in the elderly: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis.

The aging population warrants the increase of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) prevalence, a condition that could progress to dementia. Efforts have been made to improve the MCI and prevent its progression, including the introduction of Tai Chi, a Chinese traditional exercise. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of Tai Chi in attenuating MCI among the elderly population. Records investigating the effect of Tai Chi exercise intervention on cognitive function among elderly patients were searched systematically from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Europe PMC as of April 13, 2023. The risk of bias (RoB 2.0) quality assessment was employed in the quality appraisal of the studies included. Review Manager 5.4.1 was used for data extraction and meta-analysis, where the standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were computed. Eight randomized control trials with a total of 1379 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Six trials assessed Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores, where its pooled analysis suggested that Tai Chi was as effective as conventional exercise (SMD=0.15, 95%CI: -0.11 to 0.40, p=0.26). However, pooled analysis of the Mini-Mental Status Examination suggested that Tai Chi intervention more effectively improved cognitive function and reduced the rate of cognitive impairment in elderly patients (SMD=0.36, 95%CI: 0.18 to 0.54, p<0.01) as compared to the control group. This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that, in some extent, Tai Chi is efficacious in improving cognitive function and slowing down the rate of cognitive impairment among elderly patients.

The effect of Tai Chi/Qigong on depression and anxiety symptoms in adults with Cancer: A systematic review and meta-regression.

OBJECTIVE: We expand on prior systematic reviews of Tai chi/Qigong (TCQ) practice on depression or anxiety symptoms in adults with cancer to estimate the mean effect of TCQ on depression and anxiety in randomized controlled trials. Additionally, we perform moderator analysis to examine whether effects vary based on patient features, TCQ stimuli properties, or characteristics of research design. METHODS: Guided by PRISMA guidelines, we located articles published before August 31, 2023 using a combination of electronic database search and a complementary manual search through reference lists of articles and published reviews. Two separate multilevel meta-analyses with random-effects model were employed to estimate the overall effect of TCQ on depression and anxiety respectively. Further, multilevel meta-regression analysis was utilized to examine moderating effects based on moderators derived from patient features, TCQ stimuli properties, or characteristics associated with research design. Meta-analyses were performed in R4.0.0 and certainty of evidence with GRADEpro software. RESULTS: The TCQ intervention yielded a standardized mean effect size of 0.29 (95% CI, 0.18 to 0.40) for anxiety, indicating homogeneity among the included studies. Conversely, for depression, the standardized mean effect size was 0.35 (95% CI, 0.14 to 0.55), signifying heterogeneity: reductions were larger when the trial primary outcome, predominantly function-related outcomes, changed significantly between the TCQ and control group. CONCLUSIONS: TCQ practice exhibits small-to-moderate efficacy in alleviating depression and anxiety symptoms among cancer patients and survivors. Moreover, patients with depressive symptoms for whom TCQ intervention coupled with improvements in function-related outcomes manifested greater antidepressant effect.

Study protocol for a comparative randomized controlled trial of Tai Chi and conventional exercise training on alleviating depression in older insomniacs.

Background: Insomnia and depression are prevalent mental disorders that are often comorbid among older adults. Lifestyle intervention strategies incorporating Tai Chi or conventional exercise have been shown to alleviate symptoms of insomnia and depression. However, the comparative efficacy of these exercise modalities in individuals with both disorders has yet to be determined. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the efficacy of Tai Chi and conventional exercise for reducing depressive symptoms in older adults with chronic insomnia and depressive symptoms, when compared to a health education control. Methods: This study is a prospective, assessor-blinded, three-arm, parallel group, randomized controlled trial. Older adults aged ≥60 years with a diagnosis of chronic insomnia and depressive symptoms will be randomly assigned to a Tai Chi, conventional exercise or health education control condition on a 1:1:1 basis. Interventions will last for 3 months, with a 6-month follow-up period. The primary outcome is depressive symptoms, assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Secondary outcomes include subjective sleep quality, 7-day actigraphy, 7-day sleep diary, anxiety symptoms, quality of life, medication usage and physical function. All measurements will be conducted at baseline, 3 months and 9 months by outcome assessors who are blinded to group allocation. Discussion: This study will compare the efficacy of Tai Chi and conventional exercise in improving depression outcomes in older adults with chronic insomnia and depressive symptoms. Our results will shed light on the clinical potential of these interventions for combating insomnia and depression in older adults.

The effects of Tai Chi on standing balance control in older adults may be attributed to the improvement of sensory reweighting and complexity rather than reduced sway velocity or amplitude.

Introduction: Tai Chi has proved to be an effective therapy for balance performance and cognition. However, non-consistency exists in the results of the effect of Tai Chi training on standing balance control in older adults. This study aimed to use traditional and non-traditional methods to investigate the effect of Tai Chi on standing balance in older adults. Methods: Thirty-six Tai Chi practitioners (TC group) and thirty-six older adults with no Tai Chi practice (control group) were recruited in this study. A Nintendo Wii Balance Board was used to record the center of pressure (COP) during standing balance over 20 s in the condition of eyes closed with three repetitions. The wavelet analysis, multiscale entropy, recurrence quantification analysis, and traditional methods were used to evaluate the standing balance control in the anterior-posterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions. Results: (1) Greater sway mean velocity in the AP direction and sway Path length were found in the TC group compared with the control group; (2) lower Very-low frequency band (0.10-0.39 Hz) and higher Moderate frequency band (1.56-6.25 Hz) in the AP and ML directions were found in the TC group compared with the control group; (3) greater complexity index (CI) and lower determinism (DET) in the AP and ML directions were observed in the TC group compared with control group; (4) greater path length linked with smaller Very-low frequency band in the AP and ML directions and higher Moderate frequency band in the AP direction in both groups; (5) greater path length linked with lower DET and higher CI in the AP direction only in the TC group. Conclusion: Long-term Tai Chi practice improved sensory reweighting (more reliance on the proprioception system and less reliance on the vestibular system) and complexity of standing balance control in older adults. In addition, greater sway velocity may be as an exploratory role in standing balance control of TC older adults, which correlated with greater complexity, but no such significant relationship in the control group. Therefore, the effects of Tai Chi practice on standing balance control in older adults may be attributed to the improvement of sensory reweighting and complexity rather than reduced sway velocity or amplitude.

Tai chi, irisin and cognitive performance: a clinical and biological investigation in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle is the main source of circulating irisin, both at rest and during physical activity. Previous studies have suggested that irisin can improve cognitive abilities. AIMS: We explored whether six months of Tai Chi (TC) practice can modulate such a relationship in healthy older persons. METHODS: This is a prospective clinical study to evaluate the effects of TC practice as compared with low intensity exercise (LI) and no exercise (NE) control groups on plasmatic irisin levels and cognitive performance. Forty-two healthy older persons were stratified into three groups according to physical activities. Biochemical assay and cognitive functions were assessed at the baseline and after six months. RESULTS: A significant change was found in circulating irisin levels in TC as compared with NE group (p = 0.050) across time. At six months in TC group irisin levels significantly correlated with a verbal memory test (p = 0.013) controlled by age and education. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest the potential benefits for cognitive health of TC practice by irisin levels modulation.