Tai Chi Exercise for the Quality of Life in a Perimenopausal Women Organization: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND

Improvement of the quality of life in perimenopausal women has recently become an important global health issue. Extensive research reports provide evidence of Tai Chi for the quality of life, but no systematic review has individually investigated Tai Chi as a main intervention on the quality of life in perimenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE

To assess clinical evidence of Tai Chi for the quality of life in perimenopausal women.

METHODS

Studies related to the effect of Tai Chi on the quality of life in perimenopausal women in the databases of China and abroad were searched. RevMan version 5.2 software was used, and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) and bone mineral density (BMD) were selected as evaluation indices.

RESULTS

Five trials were included. The results of this study showed that Tai Chi had a significant effect on bodily pain, general health, vitality, mental health of SF-36, and the spine dimension of BMD, as supported by the following data: bodily pain (Standard Mean Difference [SMD] = -3.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] [-6.62, -0.64]; p = .02); general health (SMD = -5.08; 95% CI [-7.60, -2.56]; p < .0001); vitality (SMD = -5.67; 95% CI [-8.54, -2.81], p = .0001); mental health (SMD = -2.51; 95% CI [-4.82, -0.20], p = .03); and spine dimension of BMD (SMD = -0.06; 95% CI [-0.10, -0.01]; p = .01). However, Tai Chi had no effect on physical function, emotional health, social function, role-physical of SF-36, and the hip dimension of BMD, as supported by the following data: physical function (SMD = -1.79; 95% CI [-5.15, 1.57]; p = .30); emotional health (SMD = -2.90; 95% CI [-7.23, 1.43], p = .19]; social function (SMD = -2.23, 95% CI [-5.08, 0.61], p = .12; role-physical (SMD = - 1.18; 95% CI [-4.84, 2.47], p = .53; and hip dimension of BMD (SMD = -0.01; 95% CI [-0.03, 0.01]; p = .31).

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION

This systematic review found significant evidence for Tai Chi improving bodily pain, general health, vitality, mental health of SF-36, and the spine dimension of BMD in patients with perimenopausal syndrome. Findings suggest that Tai Chi might be recommended as effective and safe adjuvant treatment for patients with perimenopausal syndrome. More high-quality randomized controlled trials are urgently needed to confirm these results.