Effect of Tai Chi Chuan in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Author: Luo XC1, Liu J2, Fu J3, Yin HY1, Shen L1, Liu ML4, Lan L1,5, Ying J6, Qiao XL6, Tang CZ7, Tang Y1,3,5
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China. <sup>2</sup>Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China. <sup>3</sup>Medical &amp; Nursing School, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China. <sup>4</sup>The School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion &amp; Tuina, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China. <sup>5</sup>Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Acupuncture &amp; Chronobiology, Chengdu, China. <sup>6</sup>Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing, China. <sup>7</sup>School of Acupuncture &amp; Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Conference/Journal: Front Oncol.
Date published: 2020 Apr 23
Other: Volume ID: 10 , Pages: 607 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00607. eCollection 2020. , Word Count: 347


Background: Tai Chi Chuan(TCC), as a mind-body exercise, may have a positive impact on physical function and psychological well-being in breast cancer patients. The latest systematic review and meta-analysis of TCC for breast cancer was made 4 years ago and some new clinical trials about it were published. We remade a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of TCC in breast cancer patients. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (via embase.com), CENTRAL, CNKI, COVIP, Wanfang, Chaoxing, CiNii, J-SSTAGE, DBpia, and ThaiJO with no language restrictions from inception to December 31, 2018 (updated on February 16, 2020), for randomized clinical trials comparing TCC with non-exercised therapy in breast cancer patients. The primary outcome was quality of life in patients with breast cancer and data pooled by a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were conducted to estimate the effect of different durations of TCC for breast cancer patients. This study was registered in PROSPERO, number CRD 4201810326. Results: Fifteen articles involving a total of 885 breast cancer participants were included in this review. Compared with non-exercised therapy, TCC had a significant effect on quality of life in breast cancer patients (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI 0.15-0.59, p = 0.001), and subgroup analysis found that TCC showed beneficial effect in 12 weeks and 25 weeks (12 weeks: SMD = 0.40, 95% CI 0.19-0.62, p = 0.0003; 25 weeks: SMD = 0.38, 95% CI 0.15-0.62, p = 0.002). Meta-analyses of secondary outcomes showed that 3 weeks TCC increased shoulder function (SMD = 1.08, 95% CI 0.28-1.87, p = 0.008), 12 weeks TCC improved pain (SMD = 0.30, 95% CI 0.08-0.51, p = 0.007), shoulder function (SMD = 1.34, 95% CI 0.43-2.25, p = 0.004), strength of arm (SMD = 0.44, 95% CI 0.20-0.68, p = 0.0004), and anxiety (MD = -4.90, 95% CI -7.83 to -1.98, p = 0.001) in breast cancer patients compared with the control group. Conclusions: TCC appears to be effective on some physical and psychological symptoms and improves the quality of life in patients with breast cancer. Additional randomized controlled trials with a rigorous methodology and low risk of bias are needed to provide more reliable evidence.

Copyright © 2020 Luo, Liu, Fu, Yin, Shen, Liu, Lan, Ying, Qiao, Tang and Tang.

KEYWORDS: Tai Chi Chuan; breast cancer; meta-analysis; physical and psychological symptoms; quality of life

PMID: 32391277 PMCID: PMC7191057 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00607