Review Effects of traditional Chinese mind-body exercises for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis 2023 Kong et al

Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a global public health concern. We performed this systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effects and safety of traditional Chinese mind-body exercises (TCME) for patients with CFS.

Methods: We comprehensively searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP databases, and Wanfang Data from inception to October 2022 for eligible RCTs of TCME for CFS management. We used Cochran's Q statistic and I2 to assess heterogeneity and conducted subgroup analyses based on different types of TCME, background therapy, and types of fatigue. We also assessed the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach.

Results: We included 13 studies (n = 1187) with a maximal follow-up of 12 weeks. TCME included Qigong and Tai Chi. At the end of the treatment, compared with passive control, TCME probably reduces the severity of fatigue (standardised mean differences (SMD) = 0.85; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.64, 1.07, moderate certainty), depression (SMD = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.34, 0.72, moderate certainty), anxiety (SMD = 0.29; 95% CI = 0.11, 0.48, moderate certainty), sleep quality (SMD = 0.34; 95% CI = 0.10, 0.57, low certainty) and mental functioning (SMD = 0.90; 95% CI = 0.50, 1.29, low certainty). Compared with other active control therapies, TCME results in little to no difference in the severity of fatigue (SMD = 0.08; 95% CI = -0.18, 0.34, low certainty). For long-term outcomes, TCME may improve anxiety (SMD = 1.74; 95% CI = 0.44, 3.03, low certainty) compared to passive control. We did not identify TCME-related serious adverse events.

Conclusions: In patients with CFS, TCME probably reduces post-intervention fatigue, depression, and anxiety and may improve sleep quality and mental function compared with passive control, but has limited long-term effects. These findings will help health professionals and patients with better clinical decision-making.

PubMed listing only as link to journal doesn't work, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37994837/

 

"probably" about sums it up...... along with "limited long-term effects".... Patients and their doctors kinda wants something stronger than probably

 

But it isn't even probably. Using GRADE on studies of this sort is invalid.
It is a more a question of
'just about conceivable but unproven...'

 

About the same likelihood of effective benefits as eating pumpkin pie.

Or auricular astrology. Or wearing a whole-body pig suit.

Mayhaps this is all nonsense.

 

Is this different from regular astrology??

 

It depends on listening to the stars rather than gazing.
Said to be more reliably unreliable.
For 250 dollars you could get a prediction on the next president which you could completely ignore - so worth the money.

 

It's definitely distinct.

 

"Maybe kinda sorta?"

rvallee left out "clicking your heels together three times". After all, there's anecdotal evidence that that worked for a little girl and her little dog.