The effectiveness of Tai Chi for chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether Tai Chi improves pain, disability, physical performance, and/or health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain.


METHODS
Eight databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two independent reviewers rated trial quality and extracted trial data. Effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for individual trials, and pooled effect sizes were calculated using a random-effects model.


RESULTS
Seven RCTs were selected for inclusion in the review. Of these, 6 studied people with chronic arthritis and 1 studied people with chronic tension headaches. The trials were typically small and of low methodologic quality. The pooled effect size for arthritic populations on a 0-100 scale was 10.1 (range 6.3-13.9) points for pain reduction, and was 9.6 (range 5.2-14.0) points for disability reduction. Additionally, physical performance and HRQOL outcomes favored the Tai Chi intervention, but of these outcomes, only the level of tension and satisfaction with general health were statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The available data on the effect of Tai Chi are sparse and derived principally from low-quality studies. These data suggest that Tai Chi has a small positive effect on pain and disability in people with arthritis. The extent to which it benefits other forms of musculoskeletal pain is unclear.
Hall
Amanda
A
The George Institute for International Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. amandahall@george.org.au
Maher
Chris
C
Latimer
Jane
J
Ferreira
Manuela
M
D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D026302:Tai Ji / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome