Tai chi chuan for the primary prevention of stroke in middle-aged and elderly adults: a systematic review.

Author: Zheng G1, Huang M1, Liu F1, Li S1, Tao J1, Chen L2.
Affiliation: 1College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1 Huatuo Road, Shangjie University Town, Fuzhou 350108, China. 2Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1 Huatuo Road, Shangjie University Town, Fuzhou 350108, China.
Conference/Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.
Date published: 2015
Other: Volume ID: 2015 , Pages: 742152 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1155/2015/742152 , Word Count: 193



Background. Stroke is a major healthcare problem with serious long-term disability and is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Prevention of stroke is considered an important strategy. Methods. Seven electronic databases were searched. Results. 36 eligible studies with a total of 2393 participants were identified. Primary outcome measures, TCC exercise combined with other intervention had a significant effect on decreasing the incidence of nonfatal stroke (n = 185, RR = 0.11, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.85, P = 0.03) and CCD (n = 125, RR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.96, P = 0.04). For the risk factors of stroke, pooled analysis demonstrated that TCC exercise was associated with lower body weight, BMI, FBG level, and decreasing SBP, DBP, plasma TC, and LDL-C level regardless of the intervention period less than half a year or more than one year and significantly raised HDL-C level in comparison to nonintervention. Compared with other treatments, TCC intervention on the basis of the same other treatments in patients with chronic disease also showed the beneficial effect on lowering blood pressure. Conclusion. The present systematic review indicates that TCC exercise is beneficially associated with the primary prevention of stroke in middle-aged and elderly adults by inversing the high risk factors of stroke.
PMID: 25784950