American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation
-
This focused review summarizes and critically evaluates clinical trial evidence for the effectiveness of Tai Chi as a supportive therapy for stroke rehabilitation. All prospective, controlled clinical trials published in English or Chinese and involving the use of Tai Chi by survivors of stroke were searched in eight electronic databases. Information from the included studies was extracted and synthesized. ⋯ Improvements in quality-of-life and mental health were reported in three trials. This focused review suggests that Tai Chi exercise might be beneficial with respect to balance, quality-of-life, and mental health in survivors of stroke. More rigorous randomized controlled trials are required to determine whether Tai Chi is effective in stroke rehabilitation.