title: Tai chi exercise for patients with heart disease: a systematic review of controlled clinical trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To summarize and evaluate the available evidence from controlled clinical trials of tai chi (TC) exercise for patients with heart disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen databases were searched up to November 2010 with the terms tai chi, taichi, tai ji, taiji, taijichuan, cardiac, heart, coronary, myocardial, and atrial fibrillation in the title, abstract, or key words. No language restrictions were imposed. The quality and validity of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were evaluated using the Jadad Scale. The strength of the evidence for all included studies was evaluated using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine Levels of Evidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine studies including 5 RCTs and 4 nonrandomized controlled clinical trials met the inclusion criteria. Three studies examined the effectiveness of TC exercise for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and 6 studies examined the effectiveness of TC exercise among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Overall, these studies demonstrated favorable effects of TC exercise for the patients with heart disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The existing evidence suggests that TC exercise is a good option for heart patients with very limited exercise tolerance and can be an adjunct to rehabilitation programs for patients with CHD or CHF.
authors.affiliation: Centre on Behavioral Health and Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Siu-Man
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Chong-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rainbow Tin-Hung
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Rainbow
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tin-Hung Ho
authors.forename: Tat-Chi
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ziea
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tat-Chi Ziea
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Vivian Chi-Woon
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chi-Woon Taam Wong
authors.forename: Cecilia Lai-Wan
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lai-Wan Chan
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D026302:Tai Ji