Table 2.
Studies involving tai chi chuan in breast cancer survivors.
| Reference | Intervention (type/duration) | Study design | N | Main outcomes | Comments/results (group by time interactions reported for the controlled studies and time effects for non-controlled studies) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reid-Arndt et al. [65], 2012 |
Yang style tai chi chuan 10 weeks, 60′ sessions, 2x/week |
One arm | 23 (16 with breast cancer) At least 12 months from chemotherapy |
Neuropsychological tests (memory, executive function, language, and attention) Self-reported cognitive functioning (MASQ) Distress (IES-R) Mood (POMS-SF) Fatigue (POMS-SF) Balance |
Improvements in immediate and delayed memory, verbal fluency, attention, executive functioning, and self-reported cognitive functioning* Improvements in stress* Trend toward improved vigor No changes in fatigue Improved balance* |
|
| |||||
| Sprod et al. [66], 2012 | Yang style tai chi chuan versus standard support therapy 12 weeks, 60′ sessions, 3x/week |
RCT | 35 | HRQOL (MOS SF-36) IL-6, IL-8 Glucose Cortisol Insulin, IGF-1; IGFBP-1; IGFBP-3 |
Improved physical functioning and general mental health* Trends towards improved social functioning and lack of increase in insulin levels |
|
| |||||
| Janelsins et al. [67], 2011 |
Yang style tai chi chuan versus psychosocial support therapy 12 weeks, 60′ sessions, 3x/week |
RCT | 19 | Insulin, IGF-I, IGFBP Body composition (weight, bmi, fat mass, fat-free mass) Cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-2 and IFN-γ |
Lack on increase in insulin levels* No change in IGF-1, IGFBP or cytokines Decreased BMI* |
|
| |||||
| Peppone et al. [68], 2010 |
Yang style tai chi chuan versus psychosocial support therapy 12 weeks, 60′ sessions, 3x/week |
RCT | 16 | Bone formation (serum BSAP) Bone resorption (serum NTx) Bone remodeling index IGF-1, IGFBP1,3 Cytokines (IL-2, 6, 8, IFN-γ2) |
Trend towards an increase in bone formation and a decrease in bone resorption Improvement in bone remodeling index* |
|
| |||||
| Mustian et al. [69–71], 2008, 2006, 2004 |
Yang style tai chi chuan versus psychosocial support therapy 12 weeks, 60′ sessions, 3x/week |
RCT | 21 | Functional capacity (aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and flexibility) QOL (FACIT-Fatigue) Body composition Self-esteem (RSE) |
Trend toward improvement in aerobic capacity and flexibility Improved muscle strength and QOL at 12 weeks* No difference in body composition Improved self-esteem* Self-esteem positively correlated with QOL* |
BSAP: Bone-Specific Alkaline Phosphatase; FACIT-Fatigue: Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue; HRQOL: health-Related Quality of Life; IGFBP: Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein; IL: Interleukin; IGF: Insulin-like Growth Factor; MASQ: Multiple Abilities Self-Report Questionnaire; NTx: N-Telopeptides of Type I Collagen; IES-R: Impact of Event Scale-Revised; POMS-SF: Profile of Mood States-Short Form; RSE: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; bold text with*: statistically significant (P < 0.05).