The effects of tai chi mind-body approach on the mechanisms of gulf war illness: an umbrella review

Abstract

Gulf War illness (GWI) is a chronic and multisymptom disorder affecting military veterans deployed to the 1991 Persian Gulf War. It is characterized by a range of acute and chronic symptoms, including but not limited to, fatigue, sleep disturbances, psychological problems, cognitive deficits, widespread pain, and respiratory and gastrointestinal difficulties. The prevalence of many of these chronic symptoms affecting Gulf War veterans occur at markedly elevated rates compared to nondeployed contemporary veterans. To date, no effective treatments for GWI have been identified. The overarching goal of this umbrella review was to critically evaluate the evidence for the potential of Tai Chi mind-body exercise to benefit and alleviate GWI symptomology. Based on the most prevalent GWI chronic symptoms and case definitions established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Kansas Gulf War Veterans Health Initiative Program, we reviewed and summarized the evidence from 7 published systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Our findings suggest that Tai Chi may have the potential for distinct therapeutic benefits on the major prevalent symptoms of GWI. Future clinical trials are warranted to examine the feasibility, efficacy, durability and potential mechanisms of Tai Chi for improving health outcomes and relieving symptomology in GWI.

Determining the safety and effectiveness of Tai Chi: a critical overview of 210 systematic reviews of controlled clinical trials

“…Some have evaluated multiple interventions for a single condition [ 8 – 16 ], whilst others have focused only on Tai Chi interventions for either a single condition [ 17 – 22 ] or multiple conditions [ 23 – 27 ]. Limitations of the overviews evaluating only Tai Chi interventions [ 17 – 27 ] were the potential for language bias [ 17 , 18 , 22 , 23 , 25 – 27 ], reporting bias in which the most favourable results were emphasized [ 23 , 27 ], and reporting multiple estimates of effects/results for the same or similar outcome and population, with limited or no discussion about conflicting results or overlapping of the primary studies [ 18 – 25 , 27 ].…”

Determining the safety and effectiveness of Tai Chi: A critical overview of 210 systematic reviews of controlled clinical trials

“…Due to the large number of SRs, most of which were screened using a partially blinded process to help reduce the risk of selective reporting bias, it is possible that some populations and outcomes were also missed. However, we are con dent that we have reported the important outcomes also highlighted in other SRs of SRs [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26].…”

“…Given the large number of SRs of Tai Chi, SRs of SRs (henceforth referred to as overviews) are increasingly being conducted [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Some have evaluated multiple interventions for a single condition [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26], whilst others have focused only on Tai Chi interventions for either a single condition [7][8][9][10][11][12] or multiple conditions [13][14][15][16][17]. Limitations of the overviews evaluating only Tai Chi interventions [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]...…”

“…Some have evaluated multiple interventions for a single condition [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26], whilst others have focused only on Tai Chi interventions for either a single condition [7][8][9][10][11][12] or multiple conditions [13][14][15][16][17]. Limitations of the overviews evaluating only Tai Chi interventions [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17], were the potential for language bias [10][11][12][13][15][16][17], reporting bias in which the most favorable results were emphasised [16,17], and reporting multiple estimates of effects/results for the same or similar outcome and population, with limited or no discussion about con icting results or overlapping of the primary studies, nor for a meta-analysis that did not meet the criteria outlined in item 11 of AMSTAR 2. Following calibration exercises, ve reviewers (GYY, WLH, FLB, HZ, JH) extracted data into Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) [34] that was veri ed by two senior reviewers (GYY, JH).…”

The Clinical Efficacy, Safety and Biomechanical Mechanism of Tai Chi in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Tai Chi is a multi-component intervention that integrates physical, psychological, emotional, mental and behavioral elements, which can have an impact on the body and spirit of patients, resulting in bene cial health outcomes [18]. Research has shown that Tai Chi exercises can improve muscle strength, proprioceptive sensitivity and neuromuscular activity, as well as physical and mental integration to reduce pain, thereby improving physical, mental and psychosocial health and overall quality of life, ideal for symptomatic KOA [19].…”