Current trends in tai chi for stroke rehabilitation

Background There are an increasing number of studies focusing on the effect of tai chi for different diseases. As a special form of physical activity, tai chi may be beneficial for the rehabilitation of stroke, a leading cause of disability worldwide. Objective This review summarizes the existing literature on the potential benefits of tai chi for stroke rehabilitation and offers recommendations for future research. Methods Studies on the biomechanics and physiology of tai chi for stroke rehabilitation are reviewed. Research on tai chi for stroke rehabilitation and related diseases are summarized. Finally, the shortcomings of existing studies and recommendations for future studies are discussed. Conclusions Tai chi appears to be beneficial for stroke rehabilitation. But reporting quality of existing studies are sub-optimal. Future trials should define tai chi style, apply rigorous methodology to sample size calculation, randomization, recruiting criteria, and outcome measures. To avoid inadequacies during the research and reporting processes, investigators may wish to follow CONSORT guidelines and refer to well-conducted clinical studies on tai chi.