Meditative Movement Therapies And Health-related Quality-of-life In Adults

Abstract

Poor health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) is a major public health problem and the use of meditative movement therapies (MMT) has been increasing. PURPOSE: To conduct a systematic review of previous meta-analyses addressing the effects of MMT on HRQOL in adults. METHODS: Previous meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials published up through February, 2014 were included by searching nine electronic databases and cross-referencing. Dual-selection and data abstraction occurred. Methodological quality was assessed using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) Instrument. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) that were pooled using random-effects models were included. In addition, 95% prediction intervals (PI) were calculated as well as the number needed-to-treat (NNT) and percentile improvements. RESULTS: Of the 510 citations screened, 10 meta-analyses of MMT representing a median of 3 SMDs in 82 to 528 participants (median = 270) with breast cancer, schizophrenia, low back pain, heart failure and diabetes, were included. Median methodological quality was 70%. Median length, frequency and duration of the MMT were 12 weeks, 3 times per week, for 71 minutes per session. The majority of results (78.9%) favored statistically significant improvements (non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals) in HRQOL, with SMD ranging from 0.18 to 2.28. More than half of the results yielded statistically significant heterogeneity (p ≤0.10 ) and large or very large inconsistency (I2 ≥ 50%). All 95% PI included zero. The NNT ranged from 2 to 10 while percentile improvements ranged from 9.9 to 48.9. CONCLUSIONS: MMT may improve HRQOL in adults with selected conditions. However, a need exists for a large, more inclusive meta-analysis. Partially funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award number U54GM104942. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.