Review articleThe Effects of Tai Chi on Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review
Section snippets
Low BMD: Definitions and Prevalence
Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength that predisposes one to an increased risk of fracture. Bone strength primarily reflects the integration of bone density and bone quality. Because bone density can be easily measured, people are often classified as having osteoporosis or osteopenia based on the value of their BMD. Osteoporosis is technically defined by the World Health Organization as a BMD T score of less than −2.5 (ie, 2.5 standard deviations [SDs]
Clinical Trials Examining Tai Chi’s Effect on BMD in Postmenopausal Women
To systematically review the evidence evaluating Tai Chi for reducing rates of postmenopausal BMD loss, we conducted a literature search using Medline, Science Citation Index, and Cochrane Database of Randomized Controlled Trials. Search strategies for each of these databases included using the following statements and key words: Tai Chi or Tai Chi Chuan or Taijiquan and bone or osteoporosis or menopause, and included the period 1966 through April 2006. We also conducted a separate literature
Limitations of Reviewed Studies Evaluating Tai Chi’s Impact on BMD
Although the 6 studies summarized in table 2 suggest Tai Chi may improve BMD of postmenopausal women, these results should be considered inconclusive and interpreted with caution for the following reasons.
First, the majority of these studies have design and methodologic limitations. Only 2 of the 6 studies were randomized trials. Although cross-sectional studies enable investigations of long-term effects of Tai Chi, absence of randomization and longitudinal monitoring introduces great potential
Conclusions
Conclusions on the efficacy of Tai Chi for reducing rates of BMD loss in postmenopausal women are limited by the small number and generally low quality of studies to date. Acknowledging these limitations, the totality of the available evidence suggests Tai Chi may be an effective, safe, and practical intervention for maintaining BMD is postmenopausal women. One methodologically sound prospective RCT suggests Tai Chi reduces rates of tibial BMD loss, 2 sound cross-sectional studies suggest
Acknowledgments
We thank Weidong Lu for his assistance reviewing the Chinese language literature, and Monica Shields and Ellen Connors for administrative support.
The contents of this review are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine or the National Institutes of Health.
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Supported by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (grant no. 5 U19 AT002022-02 and 7 R21 AT003503-02).
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.