Evaluating the effectiveness of Tai Chi in short-term, medium-term, and long-term on balance and strength among the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: To evaluate Tai Chi´s effectiveness on balance and strength in the elderly across different intervention durations. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of 37 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on balance and 22 RCTs on strength. The databases were searched in February 202...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lina Nan, Diana Grunberg, Sinha De Silva, Divya Sivaramakrishnan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950307824000778
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Summary:Objective: To evaluate Tai Chi´s effectiveness on balance and strength in the elderly across different intervention durations. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of 37 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on balance and 22 RCTs on strength. The databases were searched in February 2023: AMED, CINAHL Plus, Medline, Web of Science, and Embase. Results: Tai Chi significantly improved balance (SMD = 0.40; 95 % CI: 0.05 to 0.75; P = 0.03) and strength (SMD = 0.43; 95 % CI: 0.01 to 0.84; P = 0.04) in the elderly, especially in medium-term interventions (8–16 weeks). Long-term effects were not statistically significant, indicating variability in the sustained impact of Tai Chi. Conclusions: Tai Chi is effective in improving balance and strength among the elderly, particularly with medium-term interventions. The variability in results across different study durations suggests a need for further research to optimise Tai Chi protocols and maximise its benefits in elderly care.
ISSN:2950-3078