Evidence mapPaperPMID 41787487Full record

Trial reportBMC complementary medicine and therapies2026

Effect of Tai Chi Yunshou motor imagery training on upper limb motor dysfunction with stroke patients.

Xiang Chen, Rui Qi, Hanyu Zou, Linhong Jiang, Banghua Yang

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Xiang ChenSchool of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cai Lun Road, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Rui QiYueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai, No. 110 Ganhe Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, China. qirui36@126.com.
Hanyu ZouSchool of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Linhong JiangSchool of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cai Lun Road, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Banghua YangSchool of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cai Lun Road, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China. yangbanghua@shu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China 2024YFF1206500National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 32571279Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality No. 25YL1900100
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUpper limb motor dysfunction is common among stroke patients. Motor imagery, as a non-invasive brain training method, has gained increasing attention and application in stroke rehabilitation. However, there is currently limited research comparing the effectiveness of different motor imagery interventions for upper limb function. This study was designed to compare the effects of Tai Chi Yunshou motor imagery training and upper limb multi-joint linkage motor imagery training in stroke patients.

methodsThis study is an assessor blinding, parallel-design, simple randomized controlled trial. 70 stroke patients who had a recovery period from 2 weeks to 6 months were recruited from a rehabilitative inpatient unit and then were randomly (enrolled from September 25, 2022, to February 1, 2023). Participants were randomized to undergo Tai Chi Yunshou motor imagery training combined with conventional rehabilitation training (n = 35) or upper limb multi-joint linkage motor imagery training combined with conventional rehabilitation training (n = 35). Each group received 6 sessions per week, for 3 weeks. The primary outcome was the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity at week 3, with higher scores indicating better motor function. The secondary outcomes included the Brunnstrom Assessment, Modified Barthel Index, Modified Ashworth Scale, grip strength, pinch strength, and the Functional Test for the Hemiplegic Upper Extremity (Hong Kong version).

resultsAmong the 70 randomized participants (mean [SD] age, 64.3 [9.2] years), 66 participants (mean [SD] age, 64.5 [8.7] years) completed 3 weeks in the study. At week 3, both groups showed improvement in daily living activities, motor recovery, and upper limb function. The intervention group had a greater decrease in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (10.97 scores) than the control group with a mean difference of 3.88 scores (95% CI, 2.64 to 5.11; P < 0.001).

conclusionsAmong stroke patients in a recovery period, the Tai Chi Yunshou motor imagery training, compared with the upper limb multi-joint linkage motor imagery training, resulted in better motor function after 3 weeks. Further studies are required to explore the underlying mechanisms of the intervention.

trial registrationThis trial was registered in the China Clinical Trials Registry on 19 September 2022 (registration number: ChiCTR2200063876, http://www.chictr.org/cn/ ).

Indexed as

Imagery, PsychotherapyStrokeStroke RehabilitationTai JiUpper ExtremityAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRecovery of FunctionHemiplegiaMotor Imagery TrainingRehabilitationStrokeTai Chi

Identifiers

PMID41787487
PMCPMC13072524

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.