title: Evaluation of Tai Chi Yunshou exercises on community-based stroke patients with balance dysfunction: a study protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Balance dysfunction after stroke limits patients' general function and participation in daily life. Previous researches have suggested that Tai Chi exercise could offer a positive improvement in older individuals' balance function and reduce the risk of falls. But convincing evidence for the effectiveness of enhancing balance function after stroke with Tai Chi exercise is still inadequate. Considering the difficulties for stroke patients to complete the whole exercise, the current trial evaluates the benefit of Tai Chi Yunshou exercise for patients with balance dysfunction after stroke through a cluster randomization, parallel-controlled design.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-blind, cluster-randomized, parallel-controlled trial will be conducted. A total of 10 community health centers (5 per arm) will be selected and randomly allocated into Tai Chi Yunshou exercise group or balance rehabilitation training group. Each community health centers will be asked to enroll 25 eligible patients into the trial. 60 minutes per each session, 1 session per day, 5 times per week and the total training round is 12 weeks. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline and 4-weeks, 8-weeks, 12-weeks, 6-week follow-up, 12-week follow-up after randomization. Safety and economic evaluation will also be assessed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This protocol aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Tai Chi Yunshou exercise for the balance function of patients after stroke. If the outcome is positive, this project will provide an appropriate and economic balance rehabilitation technology for community-based stroke patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-TRC-13003641. Registration date: 22 August, 2013 http://www.chictr.org/usercenter/project/listbycreater.aspx .
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China. taojing01@163.com.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Subsidiary Rehabilitation Hospital, Fuzhou, 350122, China. 630801992@qq.com.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China. 1023350474@qq.com.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China. 554277685@qq.com.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China. 381168335@qq.com.
authors.forename: Zhenkai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China. zhgh_1969@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Guohua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China. su8055@qq.com.
authors.forename: Yusheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China. 285577231@qq.com.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China. 593327953@qq.com.
authors.forename: Zhengkun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China. 61102547@qq.com.
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China. 1938655280@qq.com.
authors.forename: Yunhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China. lidianchen87@163.com.
authors.forename: Lidian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012107:Research Design; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D026302:Tai Ji; D013997:Time Factors