Evidence to date supports a potential benefit of Tai Chi and Qigong (TCQ) for improving motor function, depression, and quality of life (QOL) for individuals with Parkinson disease (PD), according to a recent study. Researchers sought to systematically evaluate and quantify the effects of TCQ on motor (UPDRS III, balance, falls, Timed-Up-and-Go, and 6-Minute Walk) and non-motor (depression and cognition) function, and QOL in patients with PD. They conducted a systematic search in 7 electronic databases, targeting clinical studies evaluating TCQ for individuals with PD published through August 2016. Meta-analysis was used to estimate effect sizes and publication bias for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The search identified 21 studies, 15 of which were RCTs with a total of 735 subjects. They found:

• TCQ shows promise for addressing motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson disease.
• Meta-analyses support that TCQ training leads to clinically meaningful improvements in multiple domains of motor function and fall risk.
• Findings also suggest that TCQ training leads to improvements in mood and quality of life.