Abstract
This research review aimed to evaluate the effect of practicing Tai Chi on glucose and lipid metabolism in middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients. Furthermore, it aimed to provide a theoretical basis for the practice of Tai Chi as a way to improve glucose and lipid metabolism in middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients. Therefore, we searched for randomized controlled trials on the practice of Tai Chi in middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients in Chinese- and English-language electronic databases, such as Web of Science, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Google Scholar, CNKI, Wanfang Database, and Weipu. We collected articles published no later than August 1, 2020. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated according to the standards of the Cochrane Collaboration System Evaluation Manual (version 5.1.0). Finally, 14 articles were included, showing an average Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale score of 6.57. The articles were meta-analyzed using Stata 14.0 software, showing that practicing Tai Chi improved middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients' fasting blood glucose (WMD = −0.60, 95% CI [−1.08, −0.12], p=0.015), glycosylated hemoglobin (WMD = −0.87, 95% CI [−1.60, −0.14], p=0.019), total cholesterol (WMD = −0.48, 95% CI [−0.83, −0.14], p=0.006), triglycerides (WMD = −0.21, 95% CI [−0.37, −0.04], p=0.014), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level significantly (WMD = −0.32, 95% CI [−0.63,−0.00], p=0.050). Conversely, patients' high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (WMD = 0.09, 95% CI [−0.01, 0.17], p=0.136) showed no obvious improvement. In conclusion, practicing Tai Chi in sessions lasting longer than 50 minutes (at least three times per week, for at least 12 weeks) can effectively improve glucose and lipid metabolism in middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients. However, several other factors affect glucose and lipid metabolism; therefore, further high-quality research is needed. Protocol registration number: INPLASY2020120107.
Highlights
In 2007, the American Academy of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association jointly launched the Exercise is Medicine initiative in the United States
Practicing Tai Chi in sessions lasting longer than 50 minutes can effectively improve glucose and lipid metabolism in middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients
Prior studies have seldom taken into account multiple variables, such as single-session duration, exercise frequency, and overall duration. erefore, through this research review, we aimed to explore the influence of Tai Chi on the metabolism of glucose and lipids in middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients and to assess whether there is a scientific basis to support the implementation of Tai Chi interventions for middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients
Summary
Taken as an academic philosophy and health-promotion initiative, the concept of exercise as medicine was received enthusiastically in many countries. E main goals of this initiative were the following: To provide professional training programs and continuing education programs for primary-care doctors and nurses (to ensure that they fully understand the importance of sports for health self-management), and to improve the overall national health level and happiness index through exercise prescriptions formulated by professional health-care personnel [1]. E concept of exercise as medicine is based on the findings of several previous studies showing that exercise ameliorates chronic disease. Nalbant et al. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine implemented a six-month aerobic intervention for elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and found that their lung function and lower limb strength were significantly improved [3]. Wang et al found that practicing yoga promoted the recovery of stroke patients’ neurological functions and improved their overall health [4]
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