A systematic review of the health benefits of Tai Chi for students in higher education

Abstract

BackgroundThe poor health consequences of stress are well recognized, and students in higher education may be at particular risk. Tai Chi integrates physical exercise with mindfulness techniques and seems well suited to relieve stress and related conditions.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of the health benefits of Tai Chi for students in higher education reported in the English and Chinese literature, using an evidence hierarchy approach, allowing the inclusion of studies additional to randomized controlled trials.ResultsSixty eight reports in Chinese and 8 in English were included — a combined study sample of 9263 participants. Eighty one health outcomes were extracted from reports, and assigned evidence scores according to the evidence hierarchy. Four primary and eight secondary outcomes were found. Tai Chi is likely to benefit participants by increasing flexibility, reducing symptoms of depression, decreasing anxiety, and improving interpersonal sensitivity (primary outcomes). Secondary outcomes include improved lung capacity, balance, 800/1000m run time, quality of sleep, symptoms of compulsion, somatization and phobia, and decreased hostility.ConclusionsOur results show Tai Chi yields psychological and physical benefits, and should be considered by higher education institutions as a possible means to promote the physical and psychological well-being of their students.

Effects of tai chi chuan on anxiety and sleep quality in young adults: lessons from a randomized controlled feasibility study

“…Evidence exists in English and Chinese research literature for the beneficial effects of TCC on physical and mental health of college students 15. A recent meta-analysis found TCC to have a moderate effect on reducing anxiety symptoms (Hedges’ g =0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.29–1.03), but the quality of the studies published in the literature is modest 16.…”

The Effect of an Animal-Assisted Intervention on Physiological Measures of Stress and Anxiety in Graduate Professional Physical Therapy Students

“…One potential reason that healthcare students experience higher levels of anxiety is likely due to the fact that the clinical tasks and practical skills of a healthcare provider are tested in oral or practical formats with openended questioning and these types of testing situations produce higher levels of anxiety compared to a multiple-choice type of examination [51]. Regardless of the specific cause for the increased anxiety, it stands to reason that finding ways to reduce anxiety in students is much needed in the educational setting given that anxiety can lead to both psychological and physiological changes [52] [53], can decrease immunity and when chronic in nature, anxiety can be a precursor to the development of hypertension and coronary heart disease [13] [20] found a significant reduction in heart rate in mental health patients following an interaction with a therapy dog, however there were no significant reductions in systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Braun et al [34] did not find a significant reduction in heart rate or blood pressure in children in an acute care pediatric setting following a 15 -20 minute animal-assisted intervention.…”

Effect of Tai Chi Chuan training on main performance during dance movements

“…The concept of TCC training is considered to be able to improve dancer's body control and awareness. Research has reported that TCC training facilitates improving muscle strength and flexibility as well as balance and postural stability [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Lan et al found that TCC training increased knee extensor muscle strength and endurance [10].…”

“…Lan et al found that TCC training increased knee extensor muscle strength and endurance [10]. Li et al found that knee flexor muscle strength and reaction time were improved after TCC training [8]. Guo et al found that individuals who practiced TCC for many years performed better in balance, ankle proprioception, and knee muscle strength tests than those who did not practice TCC [4].…”

“…Webster et al did a systematic review including 76 studies regarding the health benefits of TCC for college students. They found that possible benefits of TCC practice comprise increased flexibility, improved balance, and improved 800/1000 meter run time [8]. However, whether such improvement further enhances jump, spin, and balance movements in dance performance is not certain.…”