Mapping global research trends of Tai Chi for sleep health: Scientometric insights and network-based perspectives.

Tai Chi and wellness for Gulf War Illness: Combined analysis of in-person and remote randomized controlled trials.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) alters lower-extremity kinematics during stair ascent, but interjoint coordination changes remain unclear. Improving coordination and balance is also a critical target for knee OA rehabilitation. This study compared lower-extremity interjoint coordination during stair ascent between 69 knee OA individuals and 30 age-matched healthy older adults. Knee OA participants were randomized into Tai Chi or control (balance and postural training) groups, receiving 12-week interventions. 3D motion analysis assessed interjoint coordination via perimeter, area, and coordination coefficient of cyclogram at baseline and postintervention. Compared with healthy elderly, individuals with knee OA exhibited greater sagittal plane joint excursions, increased hip-knee angular range, and less smooth cyclograms. Postintervention, both groups exhibited reduced excursions in the sagittal and frontal planes, with greater reductions observed in the control group. The Tai Chi group showed decreased hip-ankle and knee-ankle angular ranges, whereas the control group displayed reduced hip-knee ranges, both shifting coordination parameters toward healthy levels. Only the sagittal plane hip-knee cyclogram area differed significantly between interventions, being smaller in the balance group. Knee OA impairs stair ascent coordination in elderly. Both interventions enhance coordination, but Tai Chi's benefits are predominantly sagittal specific, whereas balance training improves both planes and demonstrates superior efficacy in improving hip-knee flexion-extension coordination.

Design and application of Tai Chi modification of the contralateral submental flap.

Mind-body exercise as epigenetic modulators: Rewiring neural circuits for stress resilience and cognitive aging.

Roles and engagement levels of caregivers during dyadic Tai Chi interventions: A scoping review.

Exercise interventions can effectively reduce blood pressure (BP), but the optimal exercise modality and dose remain unclear. This study aimed to compare the effects of different exercise modalities and doses on systolic and diastolic BP using Bayesian network meta-analysis and dose-response modeling. Randomized controlled trials published up to April 2025 were searched, and a total of 105 randomized controlled trials were included. A random-effects model was applied to conduct both the network meta-analysis and dose-response analysis. Combined training and high-intensity interval training produced the most significant reductions in BP. Combined training reduced systolic BP by -12.05 mm Hg (95% CrI, -15.08 to -9.05) and diastolic BP by -6.20 mm Hg (95% CrI, -7.79 to -4.62), while high-intensity interval training reduced systolic BP by -10.97 mm Hg (95% CrI, -14.97 to -6.95) and diasatolic BP by -6.42 mm Hg (95% CrI, -8.68 to -4.16). Yoga and tai chi had moderate effects, whereas aerobic exercise, isometric exercise training, and resistance training showed relatively weaker effects. Dose-response analysis revealed a nonlinear U-shaped relationship, with the greatest benefit observed at ≈830 metabolic equivalents/min per wk, and the optimal doses varied by exercise modality. All exercise modalities can significantly reduce BP levels in individuals with prehypertension and established hypertension, and there is a nonlinear dose-response relationship between exercise volume and BP levels.

Upper-limb dysfunction commonly occurs after breast cancer surgery and can impair the quality of life. Traditional Chinese exercises are a category of mind-body practices derived from traditional Chinese culture and exercise traditions. They involve physical postures, breathing techniques and mental focus and have the potential to improve postoperative upper limb function. This protocol outlines the methods used for a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating traditional Chinese exercises for upper limb dysfunction following breast cancer surgery. Randomised controlled trials evaluating traditional Chinese exercises for upper-limb dysfunction among individuals following breast cancer surgery will be searched in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), Cochrane Library (Wiley), Web of Science (Clarivate), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database (Wanfangdata), VIP Database (cqvip), and China Biology Medicine Database (Sinomed) from inception to April 2026. The search strategy combined terms for participants (eg, breast neoplasms), interventions (eg, Tai Chi, Baduanjin and Qigong) and study design (randomised controlled trials). The primary outcome is upper limb function, assessed using validated scales (eg, the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire and its quick version and the Upper Extremity Functional Index). Secondary outcomes include shoulder range of motion (goniometry), pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale), upper limb circumference (cm), upper limb strength (dynamometers) and adverse events (haematoma, infection and lymphoedema). After study selection and data extraction, the risk of bias assessment will be performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0. Standard pairwise meta-analysis will be conducted using Stata V.16.0 software. Next, sensitivity and subgroup analysis will be performed. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system will assess evidence quality for the primary outcome. This review may inform clinical decision-making on the rehabilitation of individuals following breast cancer surgery. Ethical approval is not required as study data will be drawn from published randomised controlled trials. The systematic review results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CRD420251143499.

Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi Chuan on the expression of pro-inflammatory genes IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α—downstream of the NF-κB pathway—in adults with chronic diseases. It further explores potential anti-inflammatory mechanisms and identifies research gaps in the literature regarding these mechanisms. Methods This study searched seven electronic databases for relevant literature, with language restrictions limited to English and Chinese. The risk of bias in all included trials was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (version 2.0) and the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to evaluate pooled effect sizes. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to disease systems. Results We retrieved a total of 1,110 relevant studies, with 20 studies ultimately included in the analysis. These covered diseases across multiple systems, including oncology, endocrinology, respiratory, and neurological disorders. To more directly reflect intervention effects, we extracted the mean ± standard deviation of change values post-intervention compared to baseline as the analysis data. After assessing publication bias and minimizing heterogeneity effects, we found that Tai Chi Chuan significantly reduced the expression of downstream target genes (SMD = -0.48, 95% CI: -0.76 to -0.19, p < 0.01), significantly down-regulated IL-6 (SMD = -0.66, 95% CI: -1.27 to -0.06, p = 0.03), and IL-1β (SMD = -0.59, 95% CI: -0.95 to -0.23, p < 0.01). while TNF-α showed a downward trend but without statistical significance (SMD = -0.28, 95% CI: -0.59 to 0.02, p = 0.07). Subgroup analysis revealed that patients with endocrine and respiratory system diseases derived the most significant benefit. Conclusion Tai Chi can alleviate systemic inflammation in patients with chronic diseases by suppressing NF-κB-driven pro-inflammatory gene expression, demonstrating both safety and feasibility. Furthermore, we identified gaps in existing research on Tai Chi and NF-κB, particularly the lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Future studies should conduct RCTs with NF-κB core proteins and factors as direct outcome measures to directly elucidate Tai Chi’s regulatory effects on the NF-κB pathway. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ , identifier CRD420251112908.

Effects of Tai Chi on core motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease: A three-armed randomized controlled trial.

Effectiveness of prehabilitation modalities before total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Hypertension is a common chronic disease whose core pathological mechanism involves dysregulation of the neuro-endocrine-immune (NEI) network. In recent years, Tai Chi has been considered a potentially valuable intervention for chronic diseases; however, the biological mechanisms by which it regulates the NEI network remain unclear. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of standardized Tai Chi training on blood pressure and NEI-related biomarkers in patients with primary hypertension and compared these effects with those of an equivalent aerobic exercise intervention. A total of 105 patients were randomly assigned to a Tai Chi group, an aerobic exercise group, or a control group, and underwent a 24-week intervention. Multiple statistical approaches, including linear mixed-effects models, principal component analysis (PCA), and structural equation modeling (SEM), were applied to systematically analyze intervention effects. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis showed that Tai Chi intervention significantly reduced blood pressure while concurrently improving key NEI indicators such as acetylcholine, GABA, cortisol, and TNF-α, demonstrating a coordinated "stress-reduction-anti-inflammatory" effect. Structural equation modeling further confirmed "acetylcholine → cortisol → TNF-α → SBP" as a key mediating pathway. These findings indicate that Tai Chi exerts significant advantages in the non-pharmacological management of hypertension by reshaping the NEI network, highlighting its important scientific and practical significance. Trial Registration: International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry: ITMCTR2024000813.

Effect of different types of exercise interventions on cardiometabolic risk factors: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Foot involvement is highly prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), affecting over 90% of patients during the disease course. However, the specific impact of structured exercise on foot pain and functional limitations remains insufficiently understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of supervised exercise programs on foot-specific outcomes in adults with RA. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines, searching five databases for randomized and controlled quasi-experimental trials evaluating supervised exercise interventions in adults with RA and foot involvement. Primary outcomes included foot pain and physical function measures. Data were pooled using random-effects models, and risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane tools. Analysis was performed with RevMan 5.4 and STATA 17. Thirteen studies (n = 548) were included; ten entered the meta-analysis. Exercise significantly reduced foot pain (SMD - 0.68, 95% CI - 0.89 to - 0.46; p < 0.001) and improved function (Health Assessment Questionnaire SMD - 0.73, 95% CI - 0.96 to - 0.49; 6MWT MD + 47.6m, 95% CI 31.4 to 63.8; Time Up-and-Go SMD - 0.40, 95% CI - 0.59 to - 0.21). Aquatic exercise and Tai Chi showed larger pain reductions, while high-intensity interval training improved functional outcomes. Programs ≥ 12weeks yielded greater effects. Risk of bias ranged from low to some concerns; non-randomized studies showed moderate-serious confounding risk. Supervised, structured exercise reduces foot pain and improves function in RA, with aquatic and combined modalities particularly beneficial. Findings support implementation within multidisciplinary care.

ObjectiveThe comparative effectiveness of various mind-body exercises for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease remains unclear. This study aimed to compare and rank different mind-body interventions for improving objective and subjective outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Data sourcesWe systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus.MethodsRandomised controlled trials assessing mind-body exercises for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were included. A network meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16.0. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024592835).ResultsThirty-seven studies involving 3179 participants and nine interventions were analysed. Regarding objective outcomes, Pilates plus pulmonary rehabilitation showed the largest improvement in exercise capacity. For pulmonary function, Pilates plus pulmonary rehabilitation significantly improved forced expiratory volume in the first second as a percentage of the predicted value and forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity, while Yoga demonstrated superior effects on forced expiratory volume in the first second and forced vital capacity. Regarding subjective outcomes, Tai Chi, alone or combined with pulmonary rehabilitation, was superior in reducing dyspnea, while Tai Chi plus pulmonary rehabilitation and Qigong showed the greatest benefits for health-related quality of life.ConclusionsMind-body exercises are beneficial for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management. Pilates plus pulmonary rehabilitation stands out for improving objective outcomes, particularly exercise capacity and pulmonary function, whereas Tai Chi, alone or combined with pulmonary rehabilitation, emerges as the most effective intervention for subjective outcomes, including dyspnea and health-related quality of life.

Lack of exercise or sustained low engagement in exercise represents a significant risk factor for adverse health outcomes among chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. Concurrently, family caregivers of patients with CHF often endure considerable caring burdens, leading to low quality of life (QoL) and diminished health status. Substantial evidence supports that Tai Chi has beneficial effects on cardiac function and heart failure prognosis. However, conventional Tai Chi interventions are often constrained by limitations such as site dependency and overlook the roles and needs of caregivers. Therefore, we developed a home-based, digital-assisted dyadic Tai Chi training programme aimed at improving health outcomes for both patients with CHF and their family caregivers. This is a two-arm parallel, single-blinded randomised controlled trial. Patients with CHF and their family caregivers will be randomly assigned to (1) intervention group, participate in usual care plus a 12-week home-based digital-assisted dyadic Tai Chi training programme, comprising a 30-min online educational seminar, 1-hour online nurse-led dyadic coaching session, 1-hour preliminary Tai Chi training session and subsequent 12-week supervised dyadic Tai Chi practice; or (2) control group, only receive usual care. Outcome assessments encompass three perspectives: patients with CHF, caregivers and dyads. The primary outcome is functional capacity and cardiac function in patients with CHF. Secondary outcomes include: exercise self-efficacy of patients with CHF, sedentary behaviour, fear of activity, hospital admission and health-related QoL; care burden and QoL of caregivers; and mutuality, depression, anxiety and stress for both patients with CHF and their caregivers. Process evaluation will be implemented by assessing participation adherence and attrition. Adverse events will be recorded for safety assessment. Data will be collected at baseline (T0), 4 weeks (T1) and 12 weeks (T2) after initiation of the intervention. Intention-to-treat and sensitivity analysis (including per-protocol and subgroup analysis) will be performed using generalised estimating equations models. The minimal clinically important difference for primary outcomes will also be explored using the χ2 test. This study has been approved by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HSEARS20240904005) and the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. The results will be published in an international peer-reviewed journal and disseminated through conference presentation to provide a novel paradigm for optimising dyadic well-being in patients with CHF and their caregivers. NCT06876441.

Effects of Tai Chi training on lower-limb coordination pattern and variability during walking in patients with functional ankle instability: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

During growth and development, emotional experiences change dynamically. In adolescence, the stability of positive emotions may decline. Exploring whether physical activity can promote positive emotional and related psychological outcomes in children and adolescents has therefore become an important topic in public health and developmental research. This review aimed to clarify the effects of physical activity interventions on positive emotional and related psychological outcomes among children and adolescents aged 7-25 years through a meta-analysis. Relevant studies were systematically retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Embase, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO up to December 12, 2025. The search strategy combined terms related to physical activity, positive emotional and related psychological outcomes, children and adolescents, and randomized controlled trials. Because the included studies used different outcome measures and scoring ranges, standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to outcome type, intervention duration, intervention type, control-group type, session length, and age group. 15 studies comprising 16 comparisons were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled analysis showed that physical activity interventions were associated with a significant improvement in positive emotional and related psychological outcomes among children and adolescents (SMD = 0.72, 95% CI 0.33 to 1.12, P = 0.0003). However, substantial heterogeneity was observed across studies (I 2 = 95%). Subgroup analyses showed significant pooled effects for self-esteem, psychological wellbeing, aerobic exercise, no-treatment controls, interventions shorter than 12 weeks, and sessions lasting 30-60 min, whereas positive mood, mind-body exercise (yoga, Tai Chi, and Baduanjin), mixed exercise, and treatment-as-usual controls did not show significant pooled effects. The available evidence suggests that physical activity interventions may improve positive emotional and related psychological outcomes in children and adolescents. However, given the substantial heterogeneity and conceptual differences among outcome measures, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. The subgroup findings were derived from separate analyses and should not be interpreted as defining a single optimal intervention package. identifier: CRD420261279752.

Age-related declines in metabolic, cardiovascular, and physical function contribute to reduced quality of life in older adults. Although structured exercise is central to healthy aging, the optimal modality remains unclear. Community-based exercise programs in China are heterogeneous, and their comparative effects on health outcomes and cardiovascular safety have not been systematically evaluated. We aimed to compare the effects of 4 common community-based exercise modalities on cardiometabolic health, physical function, and quality of life in middle-aged and older adults, and to assess their relative efficacy and safety across intervention exposure. This single-blind randomized controlled trial included 113 middle-aged and older adults (mean age 62.3, SD 4.25 years). Participants were assigned to one of the 5 groups: 12-form Chen-style Tai Chi (CTC12), 24-form Tai Chi, square dance, walking, or a control group. The 12-week intervention comprised 2 supervised sessions per week, each lasting 90 minutes. Pre- and postintervention assessments included blood pressure, lipid profiles, fasting glucose, interleukin-6 levels, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores, activities of daily living, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) index. The CTC12 and square dance groups showed significant improvements in several outcomes. In the CTC12 group, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels significantly decreased (P=.008 and P=.002, respectively), whereas SPPB and WHOQOL scores significantly improved (P=.02 and P=.002, respectively). In the square dance group, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels significantly decreased (P=.01, P=.002, and P=.002, respectively), whereas SPPB, activities of daily living, and WHOQOL scores significantly improved (P=.04, P=.04, and P=.002, respectively). The walking group showed a significant improvement only in WHOQOL scores (P=.02). No significant changes were observed in the control group for any outcome. CTC12 and square dance were associated with significant improvements in cardiometabolic, physical, and psychological health outcomes in middle-aged and older adults. CTC12 demonstrated broader multidimensional benefits, potentially reflecting the integration of physical, respiratory, and cognitive components. These modalities may represent safe and scalable strategies for promoting healthy aging in community settings. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2400092473; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojEN.html?proj=249330.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common and multifactorial endocrine disorder that leads to significant changes in the reproductive, metabolic, and psychological domains of women's health in their reproductive years. In addition, the conventional therapies (lifestyle modification, metformin, oral contraceptives, and ovulation-inducing agents) that are the mainstay of management of the syndrome may still not be able to fully address the diverse pathophysiology of PCOS as well as the long-term risks associated with it. This narrative review highlights clinical and mechanistic data from studies on various complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities as first-line treatments for PCOS, in addition to conventional therapy. Correspondingly, herbal and botanical agents (berberine, cinnamon, licorice, Vitex agnus-castus, curcumin, and epigallocatechin gallate) modulate insulin signalling, androgen synthesis, inflammatory pathways, and oxidative stress, with initial clinical trials reporting improvements in metabolism and hormones to a similar extent as standard therapies in selected populations. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), both multi-herb prescriptions and acupuncture, provides tailored formulas that might not only regulate ovulation and endocrine parameters but also lower metabolic indices, despite the high variability across studies. Stress reduction, physical fitness, and the quality of life are among the achievements of mind-body interventions (yoga, tai chi, qigong, and mindfulness-based stress reduction). Improvements in hyperinsulinemia, hypolipidemia, ovulation, and hyperandrogenemia, along with the related insulinresistant and vitamin D-deficient phenotypes, have been steadily reported with the use of the nutraceutical combinations of inositols, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, Nacetylcysteine, coenzyme Q10, and resveratrol. New non-conventional methods, such as fecal and vaginal microbiota transplantation, platelet-rich plasma, and kisspeptin analogues, have been identified as potential therapeutic routes but are still in their infancy in terms of development. Although CAM therapies have multiple advantages in controlling many PCOS domains, the official integration into clinical practice would require standardization, rigorous randomized controlled trials, and continuous safety monitoring. If correctly and cautiously applied, CAM may be useful as an adjunct alongside established therapy, rendering PCOS management more holistic and personalized.