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ABSTRACT
Context * To summarize and evaluate the available evidence from controlled clinical trials of tai chi (TC) exercise for patients with heart disease.
Search Methods * Fourteen databases were searched up to November 2010 with the terms tai chi, taichi, tai ji, taiji, taijichuan, cardiac, heart, coronary, myocardial and atrial fibrillation in the title, abstract, or key words. No language restrictions were imposed. The quality and validity of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were evaluated using the Jadad Scale. The strength of the evidence for all included studies was evaluated using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine Levels of Evidence.
Results * Nine studies including 5 RCTs and 4 nonrandomized controlled clinical trials met the inclusion criteria. Three studies examined the effectiveness of TC exercise for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and 6 studies examined the effectiveness of TC exercise among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Overall, these studies demonstrated favorable effects of TC exercise for the patients with heart disease.
Conclusions * The existing evidence suggests that TC exercise is a good option for heart patients with very limited exercise tolerance and can be an adjunct to rehabilitation programs for patients with CHD or CHF.
(Altern Ther Health Med. 2012;18(3):16-22.)
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in many countries. There are approximately 81 million American adults diagnosed with different kinds of CVD, and this accounted for 34% of all deaths in 2006.1 In China, CVD causes one-third of all deaths.2 Generally, CVD is categorized into different types of disease, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose metabolism (including diabetes mellitus), coronary heart disease (CHD), and congestive heart failure (CHF). Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose metabolism are occasionally directly life threatening, and they are common risk factors for CHD that may lead to CHF, acute myocardial infarction (MI), or sudden death. Functional capacity may not be impaired for patients with hypertension or diabetes but is significantly impaired for patients with CHD or CHF.
CHD and CHF are chronic conditions that require lifetime secondary prevention or attentive care to decrease morbidity and mortality and improve quality of life (QQL). Cardiac rehabilitation is an important way to improve functional capacity and QOL for patients with CHD following heart attack, coronary artery bypass,...