Z. Zhou et al.
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Fig. 4. Forest plot of the effects of tai chi on fasting insulin. StudyID: study reference; Tn: number of participants in treatment group; Cn: number
of participants in control group; SMD: standardized mean difference; 95% CI: 95% confidence interval.
Fig. 5. Forest plot of the effects of tai chi on insulin resistance. StudyID: study reference; Tn: number of participants in treatment group; Cn:
number of participants in control group; WMD: weighted mean difference; 95% CI: 95% confidence interval.
–0.67 to –0.24; p < 0.001) as well as improving social
function (MD 11.92; 95% CI 4.02–19.83; p = 0.003).
However, there was no effect on balance (MD –0.63 s;
95% CI –3.29 to 8.71 s; p = 0.563), physical function
(MD 6.33; 95% CI –0.67 to 13.34; p = 0.076) or bodily
pain (MD 3.44; 95% CI –0.11 to 6.99; p = 0.058).
DISCUSSION
The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the
effects of tai chi in patients with T2DM. The review
was performed following the procedures recommended
by the Cochrane Handbook (57). The results indicate
that tai chi has beneficial effects on controlling some
biomedical outcomes (FPG, HbA1c, IR, BMI, TC,
BP) and QoL-related outcomes (physical function,
bodily pain, and social support), but did not improve
FIN and balance.
A total of 23 studies (26 articles) were included in
this meta-analysis, and no publication bias existed. In
this systematic review, tai chi was found to be effective
in lowering FPG (SMD –0.67; 95% CI –0.87 to –0.47;
p<0.001) and HbA1c (MD –0.88%; 95% CI –1.45% to
–0.31%; p = 0.002). Compared with usual treatments,
Fig. 6. Forest plot of the effects of tai chi on total cholesterol. StudyID: study reference; Tn: number of participants in treatment group; Cn: number
of participants in control group; SMD: standardized mean difference; 95% CI: 95% confidence interval.
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