Effectiveness of Taijiquan in treating insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies
Han D, Cheng J, Qu J, Wen X, Liu X, Chen Y, Wen Y, Liu Z, Liu H, Huang Y · Frontiers in Psychiatry · 2022 September 27
DOI 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.892453
Objective
Sleep efficiency of <80% based on actigraphy was defined as insomnia as self-reported difficulty falling asleep or waking up at night three to four times per week. Studies have found that Taijiquan has a positive effect on insomnia patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis will evaluate the effect of Taijiquan on insomnia.
Conclusions
The results of the study showed that Taijiquan significantly improved sleep quality in healthy adults and patients with chronic diseases, which suggests that Taijiquan may be considered as an alternative behavioral therapy in the treatment of insomnia. In the future, more high-quality, well-controlled randomized trials are needed to better inform clinical decisions.
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Insights
Taijiquan significantly improves sleep quality in individuals suffering from insomnia, suggesting that Taijiquan offers a safe and effective intervention for addressing sleep-related issues.
Taijiquan (Tai Chi) was found to be beneficial for improving insomnia, especially when compared to no treatment, simple exercise, or health education alone. Subgroup analysis revealed that Taijiquan was equally effective for both Americans and Chinese. However, further research is needed to explore the physiological mechanisms behind Taijiquan's impact on insomnia and to optimize its application in different populations and styles of Taijiquan.
