Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28182629›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2017

Tai chi for health benefits in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review.

Liye Zou, Huiru Wang, ZhongJun Xiao, Qun Fang, Mark Zhang, Ting Li, Geng Du, Yang Liu

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers, 13 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
38citing papers in PubMed, 13 pooled it
7.0field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

38 citing papers in PubMed, 13 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 68 citations in OpenAlex.

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  17. The Effects of Tai Chi on Heart Rate Variability in Older Chinese Individuals with Depression.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2018
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 7 institutions in 2 countries.

Liye ZouDepartment of Exercise Science, Physical Education, and Wellness, Tennessee Tech University, TN, United States of America.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6411-5710
Huiru WangDepartment of Sport Science, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
ZhongJun XiaoDepartment of Foreign Language Teaching, Jishou University, Hunan, China.
Qun FangDepartment of Physical Education and Health Education, Springfield College, MA, United States of America.
Mark ZhangDepartment of Sport Management, Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware, United States of America.
Ting LiDepartment of Neurology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
Geng DuDepartment of Exercise Science, Wuhan Sport University, Wuhan, China.
Yang LiuDepartment of Knesiology, Sensorimotor Neurophysiology Lab, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America.
Delaware State University · USIndiana University Bloomington · USJishou University · CNRenji Hospital · CNSpringfield College · USTennessee Technological University · USWuhan Sports University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the existing evidence on the effectiveness and safety of Tai chi, which is critical to provide guidelines for clinicians to improve symptomatic management in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). After performing electronic and manual searches of many sources, ten relevant peer-reviewed studies that met the inclusion criteria were retrieved. The existing evidence supports the effectiveness of Tai chi on improving quality of life (QOL) and functional balance in MS patients. A small number of these studies also reported the positive effect of Tai chi on flexibility, leg strength, gait, and pain. The effect of Tai chi on fatigue is inconsistent across studies. Although the findings demonstrate beneficial effects on improving outcome measures, especially for functional balance and QOL improvements, a conclusive claim should be made carefully for reasons such as methodological flaws, small sample size, lack of specific-disease instruments, unclear description of Tai chi protocol, unreported safety of Tai chi, and insufficient follow-up as documented by the existing literature. Future research should recruit a larger number of participants and utilize the experimental design with a long-term follow-up to ascertain the benefits of Tai chi for MS patients.

Indexed as

GaitMultiple SclerosisMuscle StrengthPain ManagementTai JiHumansPain

Identifiers

PMID28182629
PMCPMC5300172
OpenAlexW2586833402

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.