Chronic Pain

You have full text access to this OnlineOpen article

The effectiveness of Tai Chi for chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis

  1. Amanda Hall1,*,
  2. Chris Maher1,
  3. Jane Latimer1,
  4. Manuela Ferreira2

Article first published online: 28 MAY 2009

DOI: 10.1002/art.24515

Issue

Arthritis Care & Research

Arthritis Care & Research

Volume 61, Issue 6, pages 717–724, 15 June 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hall, A., Maher, C., Latimer, J. and Ferreira, M. (2009), The effectiveness of Tai Chi for chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 61: 717–724. doi: 10.1002/art.24515

Author Information

  1. 1

    The George Institute for International Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

  2. 2

    The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

*PO Box M201, Missenden Road, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2050

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 28 MAY 2009
  2. Article first published online: 28 MAY 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 23 FEB 2009
  4. Manuscript Received: 22 JUL 2008

Funded by

  • PhD scholarship funded by the Australian government
  • Research fellowship funded by Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council
  • Postdoctoral fellowship from The University of Sydney

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (108K)

REFERENCES

  • 1
    Andersson GB. Epidemiological features of chronic low-back pain. Lancet 1999; 354: 581–5.
  • 2
    Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Eighth Biennial Health Report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2004.
  • 3
    Chou R, Huffman LH. Nonpharmacologic therapies for acute and chronic low back pain: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society/American College of Physicians clinical practice guideline [published erratum appears in Ann Intern Med 2008;148:247–8]. Ann Intern Med 2007; 147: 492–504.
  • 4
    Fransen M, McConnell S, Bell M. Therapeutic exercise for people with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee: a systematic review. J Rheumatol 2002; 29: 1737–45.
  • 5
    Liddle SD, Gracey JH, Baxter GD. Advice for the management of low back pain: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Man Ther 2007; 12: 310–27.
  • 6
    Hayden JA, van Tulder MW, Malmivaara A, Koes BW. Exercise therapy for treatment of non-specific low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005; 3:CD000335.
  • 7
    Hayden JA, van Tulder MW, Malmivaara A, Koes BW. Meta-analysis: exercise therapy for nonspecific low back pain. Ann Intern Med 2005; 142: 765–75.
  • 8
    Hayden JA, van Tulder MW, Tomlinson G. Systematic review: strategies for using exercise therapy to improve outcomes in chronic low back pain. Ann Intern Med 2005; 142: 776–85.
  • 9
    Lan C, Chen SY, Lai JS. Relative exercise intensity of Tai Chi chuan is similar in different ages and gender. Am J Chin Med 2004; 32: 151–60.
  • 10
    LamP, editor. Teaching Tai Chi effectively. Narwee (New South Wales, Australia): Tai Chi Productions; 2006. p. 222.
  • 11
    Wolfson L, Whipple R, Derby C, Judge J, King M, Amerman P, et al. Balance and strength training in older adults: intervention gains and Tai Chi maintenance. J Am Geriatr Soc 1996; 44: 498–506.
  • 12
    The Arthritis Foundation. URL: www.arthritis.org.
  • 13
    Abbott RB, Hui KK, Hays HD, Li MD, Pan T. A randomized controlled trial of Tai Chi for tension headaches. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2007; 4: 107–13.
  • 14
    Brismee JM, Paige RL, Chyu MC, Boatright JD, Hagar JM, McCaleb JA, et al. Group and home-based Tai Chi in elderly subjects with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil 2007; 21: 99–111.
  • 15
    Choi JH, Moon JS, Song R. Effects of sun-style Tai Chi exercise on physical fitness and fall prevention in fall-prone older adults. J Adv Nurs 2005; 51: 150–7.
    Direct Link:
  • 16
    Dechamps A, Lafont L, Bourdel-Marchasson I. Effects of Tai Chi exercises on self-efficacy and psychological health. Eur Rev Aging Phys Act 2007; 4: 25–32.
  • 17
    Jin P. Changes in heart-rate, noradrenaline, cortisol and mood during Tai Chi. J Psychosom Res 1989; 33: 197–206.
  • 18
    Wolf SL, Barnhart HX, Kutner NG, McNeely E, Coogler C, Xu TS, et al. Reducing frailty and falls in older persons: an investigation of Tai Chi and computerized balance training. J Am Geriatr Soc 1996; 44: 489–97.
  • 19
    Wu G. Evaluation of the effectiveness of Tai Chi for improving balance and preventing falls in the older population: a review. J Am Geriatr Soc 2002; 50: 746–54.
    Direct Link:
  • 20
    Wang C, Collet JP, Lau J. The effect of Tai Chi on health outcomes in patients with chronic conditions: a systematic review. Arch Intern Med 2004; 164: 493–501.
  • 21
    Han A, Robinson V, Judd M, Taixiang W, Wells G, Tugwell P. Tai chi for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004; 3:CD004849.
  • 22
    Lee MS, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Tai chi for osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Clin Rheumatol 2008; 27: 211–8.
  • 23
    HigginsJP, GreenS, editors. Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions, version 5.0.0. The Cochrane Collaboration 2008. URL: www.cochrane-handbook.org.
  • 24
    Adler P, Good M, Roberts B, Snyder S. The effects of Tai Chi on older adults with chronic arthritis pain. J Nurs Scholarsh 2000; 32: 377.
    Direct Link:
  • 25
    Bhatti TI, Gillin JC, Atkinson JH, Jordan JE, Golshan S. Garfin SR, et al. Tai Chi as a treatment for chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial study [abstract]. Altern Ther Health Med 1998; 4: 90–1.
  • 26
    Fransen M, Nairn L, Winstanley J, Lam P, Edmonds J. Physical activity for osteoarthritis management: a randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating hydrotherapy or Tai Chi classes. Arthritis Rheum 2007; 57: 407–14.
    Direct Link:
  • 27
    Hartman CA, Manos TM, Winter C, Hartman DM, Li BQ, Smith JC. Effects of Tai Chi training on function and quality of life indicators in older adults with osteoarthritis. J Am Geriatr Soc 2000; 48: 1553–9.
  • 28
    Lee KY, Jeong Y. The effect of Tai Chi movement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi 2006; 36: 278–85. In Korean.
  • 29
    Song R, Lee EO, Lam P, Bae SC. Effects of a sun-style Tai Chi exercise on arthritic symptoms, motivation and the performance of health behaviors in women with osteoarthritis. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi 2007; 37: 249–56.
  • 30
    Maher CG, Sherrington C, Herbert RD, Moseley AM, Elkins M. Reliability of the PEDro scale for rating quality of randomized controlled trials. Phys Ther 2003; 83: 713–21.
  • 31
    Moher D, Pham B, Jones A, Cook DJ, Jadad AR, Moher M, et al. Does quality of reports of randomised trials affect estimates of intervention efficacy reported in meta-analyses? Lancet 1998; 352: 609–13.
  • 32
    Schulz KF, Chalmers I, Hayes RJ, Altman DG. Empirical evidence of bias: dimensions of methodological quality associated with estimates in controlled trials. JAMA 1995; 273: 408–12.
  • 33
    Juni P, Witschi A, Bloch R, Egger M. The hazards of scoring the quality of clinical trials for meta-analysis. JAMA 1999; 282: 1054–60.
  • 34
    Lorig K, Chastain RL, Ung E, Shoor S, Holman HR. Development and evaluation of a scale to measure perceived self-efficacy in people with arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1989; 32: 37–44.
    Direct Link:
  • 35
    Boutron I, Moher D, Altman DG, Schulz KF, Ravaud P. Extending the CONSORT statement to randomized trials of nonpharmacologic treatment: explanation and elaboration. Ann Intern Med 2008; 148: 295–309.
  • 36
    Han A, Robinson V, Judd M, Taixiang W, Wells G, Tugwell P. Tai chi for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004; 3:CD004849.
  • 37
    Wang C, Collet JP, Lau J. The effect of Tai Chi on health outcomes in patients with chronic conditions: a systematic review. Arch Intern Med 2004; 164: 493–501.
  • 38
    Farrar JT, Young JP, Lamoreux L, Werth JL, Poole RM. Clinical importance of changes in chronic pain intensity measured on an 11-point numerical pain rating scale. Pain 2001; 94: 149–58.
  • 39
    Ostelo R, Deyo RA, Stratford P, Waddell G, Croft P, Von Korff M. Interpreting change scores for pain and functional status in low back pain: towards international consensus regarding minimal important change. Spine 2008; 33: 90–4.
  • 40
    Bogduk N. Management of chronic low back pain. Med J Aust 2004; 180: 79–83.
  • 41
    Li FZ, Fisher KJ, Harmer P, Irbe D, Tearse RG, Weimer C. Tai chi and self-rated quality of sleep and daytime sleepiness in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004; 52: 892–900.
    Direct Link:
  • 42
    Ware JE, Sherbourne CD. The MOS 36-item Short-Form health survey (SF-36). I. Conceptual framework and item selection. Med Care 1992; 30: 473–83.
  • 43
    Pengel LH, Refshauge KM, Maher CG. Responsiveness of pain, disability, and physical impairment outcomes in patients with low back pain. Spine 2004; 29: 879–83.
  • 44
    Piva SR, Fitzgerald GK, Irrgang JJ, Bouzubar F, Starz TW. Get Up and Go test in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004; 85: 284–9.
  • 45
    Grace EM, Gerecz EM, Kassam YB, Buchanan HM, Tugwell PS. 50-foot walking time: a critical-assessment of an outcome measure in clinical therapeutic trials of antirheumatic drugs. Br J Rheumatol 1988; 27: 372–4.
  • 46
    Pankoff BA, Overend TJ, Lucy SD, White KP. Reliability of the six-minute walk test in people with fibromyalgia. Arthritis Care Res 2000; 13: 291–5.
    Direct Link:
  • 47
    American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM's guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. 7th ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1995.
  • 48
    Hopewell S, Clarke M, Moher D, Wager E, Middleton P, Altman DG, et al. CONSORT for reporting randomized controlled trials in journal and conference abstracts: explanation and elaboration. PLoS Med 2008; 5: 48–56.
  • 49
    Hopewell S, Eisinga A, Clarke M. Better reporting of randomized trials in biomedical journal and conference abstracts. J Inf Sci 2008; 34: 162–73.
  • 50
    Moher D, Cook DJ, Eastwood S, Olkin I, Rennie D, Stroup DF. Improving the quality of reports of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials: the QUOROM statement. Lancet 1999; 354: 1896–900.
View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (108K)