{"publication_id":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","content_hash":"sha256:d7cde6e14c1dca2cffc3ea51e7f2d6358fe9f5452951bbbcc337f12ffd3af167","nodes":[{"id":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","type":"publication","title":"Research Synthesis: Tai Chi Exercise Effects — full paper"},{"id":"claim_1","type":"claim","text":"Evidence-honesty note: 35/46 retained sources are indirect, review-level, adjacent, or mechanistic and are used only to bound interpretation. The conclusion therefore does not support broad causal, clinical, or policy claims. Tai chi is widely promoted as a low-impact mind-body exercise for older adults, yet its purported benefits span heterogeneous cardiometabolic, skeletal, cognitive, and psychological endpoints, and the strength of supporting human evidence varies sharply across these domains. We conducted an AI-assisted structured evidence synthesis, mapping 46 curated primary studies and reviews onto standardized outcome categories, with each claim auditable back to a coded source rather than pooled narratively. Adding to this tension, Li 2021 (cross-sectional, P = 0.002 for cerebral vascular hemodynamics index) and Niu 2024 (RCT, P < 0.005 to P < 0.001 for body composition) report context-specific cardiometabolic signals, positioning the cardiometabolic dossier as genuinely bidirectional rather than uniformly favorable."},{"id":"claim_2","type":"claim","text":"Evidence-honesty note: 35/46 retained sources are indirect, review-level, adjacent, or mechanistic and are used only to bound interpretation. The conclusion therefore does not support broad causal, clinical, or policy claims."},{"id":"claim_3","type":"claim","text":"Tai chi is widely promoted as a low-impact mind-body exercise for older adults, yet its purported benefits span heterogeneous cardiometabolic, skeletal, cognitive, and psychological endpoints, and the strength of supporting human evidence varies sharply across these domains."},{"id":"claim_4","type":"claim","text":"We conducted an AI-assisted structured evidence synthesis, mapping 46 curated primary studies and reviews onto standardized outcome categories, with each claim auditable back to a coded source rather than pooled narratively."},{"id":"claim_5","type":"claim","text":"Three explicit within-corpus contradictions recur: Yin 2023 (negative direction on hypertensive outcomes) versus Li 2021 (positive direction on cerebrovascular indices); Hao 2019 versus Yang 2021 (mixed direction on knee-related strength); and Hu 2021 (positive on osteoarthritis pain) versus Kuang 2024, Lin 2024, and Lei 2022 (null on anxiety, falls, and motor function), each of which should temper any single-domain enthusiasm."},{"id":"claim_6","type":"claim","text":"Interpretation below therefore separates primary clinical-trial evidence from review-level, preclinical, and other indirect evidence."},{"id":"claim_7","type":"claim","text":"This synthesis evaluates evidence on tai chi exercise effects across 46 included source papers and 1561 high-confidence extracted claims. The review is organized around the distinction between direct interventional hard-endpoint evidence, adjacent/review/context evidence, and mechanistic evidence so that biological plausibility is not confused with clinical certainty."},{"id":"claim_8","type":"claim","text":"The corpus contains 11 direct clinical sources, 35 adjacent, review, or context sources, and no sources classified primarily as mechanistic or model-system evidence. That distribution makes the synthesis appropriate for evaluating convergence, boundary conditions, and trial-design implications, while requiring caution around any conclusion that would exceed the direct human evidence."},{"id":"claim_9","type":"claim","text":"The introductory frame therefore treats the corpus as a set of evidence roles rather than a single directional verdict. Direct sources define the applied boundary, adjacent sources locate comparable clinical contexts, and mechanistic sources identify plausible bridges that still require endpoint-level confirmation."},{"id":"claim_10","type":"claim","text":"This distinction matters for publication because it makes the paper falsifiable. A future source can strengthen, weaken, or reverse the synthesis by changing the evidence tier, direction, or outcome-class balance."},{"id":"claim_11","type":"claim","text":"The mechanistic layer is most useful when it explains why a trial signal might appear or fail to appear. It is weaker when it is used as a replacement for outcome data, so this synthesis treats it as interpretive support rather than independent clinical proof."},{"id":"claim_12","type":"claim","text":"Null findings have a specific role in this evidence model. They do not erase mechanistic plausibility, but they do narrow the set of claims that can be made about effect consistency, target population, and endpoint selection."},{"id":"claim_13","type":"claim","text":"Adverse or negative signals are likewise retained in the main interpretation. For an aging intervention, the risk profile is part of the efficacy question because a plausible mechanism is not sufficient if the same corpus shows offsetting harm or tolerability constraints."},{"id":"claim_14","type":"claim","text":"The evidence base also distinguishes breadth from certainty. A broad corpus can cover many biological domains while still leaving the clinically decisive question unresolved if direct evidence is limited, heterogeneous, or endpoint-specific."},{"id":"claim_15","type":"claim","text":"For that reason, the manuscript does not collapse every source into a single recommendation. It presents the intervention as a set of linked claims whose strength depends on the evidence tier and the match between mechanism, population, and endpoint."},{"id":"claim_16","type":"claim","text":"The research value of the synthesis lies in making these boundaries explicit. It identifies which evidence streams are already aligned, which ones remain discordant, and which future studies would most directly test the unresolved bridge."},{"id":"claim_17","type":"claim","text":"The background evidence for tai chi exercise effects is heterogeneous rather than uniformly confirmatory. Direct clinical sources such as Chen 2025, Lyu 2026, Niu 2023 are interpreted separately from mechanistic studies such as the retained evidence base, because these evidence roles answer different questions about aging biology and clinical translation."},{"id":"claim_18","type":"claim","text":"The direct evidence establishes what has been observed in human or adjacent clinical settings. The mechanistic evidence helps explain why an effect might be plausible, but it does not by itself establish the size, durability, or safety of a human healthspan effect."},{"id":"claim_19","type":"claim","text":"Across the retained sources, positive signals cluster around the cardiometabolic and contextual adjacent evidence outcome classes; null signals around the contextual adjacent evidence, cardiometabolic, safety and comorbidity outcome classes; and negative or adverse signals around the cardiometabolic and muscle function outcome classes. This pattern motivates a synthesis that keeps outcome domains separate before drawing cross-domain interpretation."},{"id":"claim_20","type":"claim","text":"The study-level structure also prevents selective emphasis. Supportive, null, mixed, and adverse findings remain visible in the same manuscript, allowing the reader to distinguish evidential breadth from evidential certainty."},{"id":"claim_21","type":"claim","text":"The resulting paper is therefore a calibrated synthesis: it can identify plausible mechanisms, observed direct signals when present, unresolved tensions, and trial-design priorities without converting them into claims stronger than the retained corpus can support."},{"id":"claim_22","type":"claim","text":"The following fields were extracted from each included source: study design, population / cohort, intervention or exposure, comparator, outcome class, effect direction, effect size, confidence interval or credible interval, p-value, sample size, follow-up duration, risk-of-bias rating. Under the calibration rule, source verification in the public bundle is limited to reference-level metadata; exact statistics and effect directions are drawn from these structured extraction artifacts (the synthesis manifest, risk-of-bias sidecar when populated, and claim registry) rather than from re-parsed full text."},{"id":"claim_23","type":"claim","text":"Risk-of-bias framework assignment follows study design (RoB-2 for RCTs, ROBINS-I for non-randomised studies, AMSTAR-2 for systematic reviews / meta-analyses). Public appraisal claims are limited to populated `risk_of_bias.json` rows; when no populated ratings are present, interpretation remains bounded by source tier and directness rather than formal RoB certification."},{"id":"claim_24","type":"claim","text":"Evidence-tension synthesis: claims grouped by outcome class (cardiometabolic, contextual adjacent evidence, muscle function, safety and comorbidity, skeletal, fracture, and bone); within-class agreement, disagreement, and directness gaps surfaced explicitly. Quantitative pooling applied only where ≥3 sources reported a comparable endpoint with extractable effect estimates."},{"id":"claim_25","type":"claim","text":"Source retrieval, claim extraction, evidence routing, and prose drafting were assisted by large language models under a deterministic audit-trail protocol. Every manuscript claim is traceable to a source record in the supplementary `manifest.json`. Final eligibility and interpretation decisions are author-verified."},{"id":"claim_26","type":"claim","text":"Topic-fit rationale: Sources are retained only when they operationalize tai chi exercise effects directly or provide adjacent/contextual boundary evidence for the same construct. 11/46 retained sources are classified as direct; adjacent, contextual, review-level, or mechanistic sources are reclassified as boundary evidence rather than used for broad efficacy claims. Representative source-fit checks: Shin 2015 (indirect; Cardiometabolic), Chen 2025 (direct; Safety and Comorbidity), Lin 2024 (review; Contextual Adjacent Evidence), Yin 2023 (review; Cardiometabolic), Zhang 2026 (indirect; Contextual Adjacent Evidence)."},{"id":"claim_27","type":"claim","text":"Findings Map accounting note: each outcome-class n, direction count, directness count, and source roster is computed from the same source-level rows listed in the detailed table. Receipt-level direction is not a statement that the source abstracts lack directional statistics; it is the conservative coded polarity used for synthesis accounting. Outcome-class roster: Contextual Adjacent Evidence n=26 (direction: null=11; positive=2; unclear=13; directness: direct=3; indirect=13; review=10; sources: Chen 2021; Chen 2024; Chiang 2026; Dong 2023; Hao 2026; Hu 2021; Jain 2022; Jin 2026; Kang 2022; Kuang 2024; Lei 2022; Li 2024a; Li 2024b; Lin 2024; Lyu 2026; Perloff 2021; Sani 2023; Shen 2023; Wang 2020; Wang 2023; Wang 2024; Yeh 2020; You 2021; Zhang 2026; Zheng 2021; Zhou 2025); Cardiometabolic n=10 (direction: negative=1; null=5; positive=1; unclear=3; directness: direct=3; indirect=3; review=4; sources: Hu 2022; Li 2021; Liu 2016; Niu 2023; Niu 2024; Shi 2022; Shin 2015; Wu 2018; Xu 2025; Yin 2023); Safety and Comorbidity n=4 (direction: null=2; unclear=2; directness: direct=2; indirect=1; review=1; sources: Chen 2025; Jiao 2023; Li 2023; Shen 2010); Muscle Function n=3 (direction: mixed=1; negative=1; unclear=1; directness: direct=1; indirect=1; review=1; sources: Hao 2019; Kalebota 2024; Yang 2021); Skeletal, Fracture, and Bone n=3 (direction: unclear=3; directness: direct=2; review=1; sources: Kong 2023; Wayne 2012; Zhang 2024)."},{"id":"claim_28","type":"claim","text":"Tension-accounting note: disagreement counts are claim-level. Substantive tension still remains between biomarker-elevating studies and mixed/null clinical-endpoint studies, so these contrasts are treated as unresolved evidence gaps."},{"id":"claim_29","type":"claim","text":"| Evidence domain | Source | Direction | Directness | Tier | Evidence role | Finding |"},{"id":"claim_30","type":"claim","text":"| Cardiometabolic | Hu 2022: Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on Balance Function in Stroke Patients: An Overview of Systematic Review | direction=null | directness=review | B2 | outcome=Cardiometabolic; direction=null | finding=1 extracted claim(s); receipt-level direction is the coded finding |"},{"id":"source_1","type":"source","study":"Sensory-emotional-cognitive effects of resistance exercise and Tai Chi exercise in Japanese community-dwelling older adults with chronic pain: a non-randomized controlled trial","year":2025,"doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05100-9","url":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-05100-9","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"direct","cited_as":"Chen 2025","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Although Tai Chi has demonstrated efficacy in alleviating pain and improving functional mobility in people with chronic pain, the mechanisms underlying its pain-relieving effects remain poorly understood. We assessed the efficacy of a Tai Chi intervention on pain-related sensory, emotional, and cognitive indices in Japanese community-dwelling older adults with chronic pain. METHODS: A non-randomized controlled trial was conducted for 12 weeks in the community of Itoshima City, Fukuoka, Japan. Adults aged ≥ 60 years with chronic pain were recruited and allocated to an intervention group or a control group. A total of 84 participants were allocated, with 44 in the intervention group and 40 in the control group. Chronic pain was defined as musculoskeletal pain lasting ≥ 3 months. Baseline characteristics of participants included age, sex, education, body mass index, comorbidities, current tobacco consumption, current alcohol consumption, and fall history. The control group received resistance training; the intervention group received resistance training and Tai Chi exercise."},{"id":"source_2","type":"source","study":"The effects of different types of Tai Chi exercises on preventing falls in older adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis","year":2024,"doi":"10.1007/s40520-023-02674-7","url":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-023-02674-7","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Lin 2024","excerpt":"OBJECTIVES: Few studies comparing the effects of different types of Tai Chi exercises on preventing falls in older adults. We compared the effects for finding an optimal intervention. METHODS: We searched 12 databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and so on, from their inception to January 13, 2023. Randomized controlled trials incorporating different types of Tai Chi for preventing falls in older adults were included. The outcome measures were the incidence of falls and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted using Stata 15.1 based on a frequentist framework. RESULTS: Seventeen trials were eligible, including 3470 participants and four types of Tai Chi. They were 24-form simplified Tai Chi (24-form), Yang style Tai Chi (Yang style), Sun style Tai Chi (Sun style) and Tai Chi exercise program (TCEP). In paired meta-analysis, for incidence of falls, 24-form (Relative Risk (RR) = 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.40, 0.86]) was more efficient than the control group. For BBS outcome, 24-form (MD (mean difference) = 2.32, 95% CI [1.42, 3.22]) was better than the control group."},{"id":"source_3","type":"source","study":"Effects of the different Tai Chi exercise cycles on patients with essential hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis","year":2023,"doi":"10.3389/fcvm.2023.1016629","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1016629","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Yin 2023","excerpt":"OBJECTIVE: The main treatment for essential hypertension at this stage is pharmacotherapy. Long-term pharmacotherapy is costly with some side effects. Tai Chi, a bright star in traditional Chinese arts, relaxes both mind and body and has been shown to relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure. This study aimed to systematically review the therapeutic effectiveness of the Tai Chi exercise cycle on blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors of patients with essential hypertension. METHODS: Searching CNKI, VIP, CBM, PubMed, EBSCO, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to collect randomized controlled trials about Tai Chi exercise in the treatment of patients with essential hypertension according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The search time ranged from the date of database construction to December 2022. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to evaluate the included trials. The meta-analysis was performed with RevMan5.3 and Stata12.0 software. RESULTS: According to the meta-analysis, compared with the controls, Tai Chi exercise with a cycle of more than 12 weeks may be better for the reduction of systolic blood pressure (SBP) [MD = -11.72, 95% CI (-15.52, -7."},{"id":"source_4","type":"source","study":"An acute intervention experimental study on the effects of green and blue environment exposure combined with tai chi exercise on the emotional health of elderly males","year":2026,"doi":"10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1743865","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1743865","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Zhang 2026","excerpt":"PURPOSE: This study investigated the acute effects of green and blue environment exposure combined with Tai Chi exercise on the short-term emotions of elderly males, and comparatively analyzed the characteristics of acute emotional responses to short-term exposure to different environment types paired with Tai Chi exercise, as well as differences in the maintenance of acute emotional effects following subsequent exposure to different environments after the combined intervention. METHODS: Elderly males from Qinlou Subdistrict, Donggang District, Rizhao City, Shandong Province were recruited and assigned to four groups using the random number table method: conventional environment + Tai Chi (TJQ, N = 23), green environment + Tai Chi (GTJQ, N = 24), blue environment + Tai Chi (BTJQ, N = 23), and balanced green-blue environment + Tai Chi (GBTJQ, N = 24). An acute longitudinal dual-intervention model of \"short-term green and blue exposure + short-term Tai Chi exercise + short-term continuous green and blue exposure\" was implemented."},{"id":"source_5","type":"source","study":"Tai Chi exercise improves sleep quality in older adults with mild insomnia by enhancing slow-wave activity during deep sleep: a 12-week randomized controlled trial","year":2026,"doi":"10.3389/fphys.2026.1795646","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2026.1795646","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"direct","cited_as":"Lyu 2026","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Sleep quality declines with age in older adults, and pharmacological interventions have multiple limitations. As a safe and accessible mind-body exercise, Tai Chi has preliminary evidence supporting its sleep-improving effects, but objective mechanistic studies based on sleep electroencephalography (EEG) remain scarce. Objective: This study aimed to clarify the effect of Tai Chi intervention on improving sleep quality in older adults and reveal its core mechanism through regulating sleep EEG characteristics, using a combination of questionnaires and sleep EEG monitoring. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial design was adopted, enrolling 67 older adults aged 65-75 years with mild sleep disturbance, who were randomly divided into the Tai Chi group (n=33) and the control group (n=34). The Tai Chi group received 12 weeks of standardized 24-form Tai Chi training (5 times per week, 60 minutes per session), while the control group maintained daily activities without regular exercise. Subjective sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and sleep diaries."},{"id":"source_6","type":"source","study":"Comparing the Effects of Bafa Wubu Tai Chi and Traditional He-Style Tai Chi Exercises on Physical Health Risk Factors in Overweight Male College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial","year":2023,"doi":"10.3390/ijerph20146323","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20146323","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"direct","cited_as":"Niu 2023","excerpt":"UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Bafa Wubu Tai Chi (BW-TC) and traditional He-style Tai Chi (TH-TC) exercises on physical health risk factors in overweight male college students and to compare the effectiveness of the two Tai Chi exercise forms in improving these risk factors. METHODS: Eighty-one overweight male university students between the ages of 18 and 23 were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to the BW-TC group, TH-TC group, and control group (CG). The Tai Chi exercise training consisted of 12 weeks, three times a week, for 60 min per session. The CG attended three health lectures and maintained their normal study routine. The outcomes were body composition and blood lipids. Data were collected at baseline and post-intervention and analyzed using one-way ANOVA and mixed-design ANOVA. RESULTS: At baseline, there were no significant differences in demographic characteristics and assessed parameters ( p > 0.05) among the groups. The BW TC and TH TC groups both significantly decreased their body weight (2.69 kg, 2.04 kg, respectively), body mass index (0.90 kg/m 2 , 0.67 kg/m 2 , respectively), body fat percentage (1.46%, 1."},{"id":"source_7","type":"source","study":"Tai Chi exercise improves age‐associated decline in cerebrovascular function: a cross‐sectional study","year":2021,"doi":"10.1186/s12877-021-02196-9","url":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02196-9","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Li 2021","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Tai Chi exercise has been reported to enhance physical and mental health in the older adults; however, the mechanism remains elusive. TRIAL DESIGN: We recruited 289 older adults practicing Tai Chi for over 3 years, together with 277 age-matched older and 102 young adults as controls. 168 Tai Chi practitioners were successfully matched to 168 older controls aged 60-69 based on a propensity score for statistics. METHODS: Cerebrovascular function was evaluated by measuring the hemodynamics of the carotid artery. Spearman correlation was performed to validate the age-associated physiological parameters. RESULTS: Cerebrovascular function in older adults significantly degenerated compared with the young, and was substantially correlated with age. Compared with the older control group, Tai Chi practitioners showed significant improvements in CVHI (cerebral vascular hemodynamics indices) Score (P = 0.002), mean blood flow velocity (P = 0.014), maximal blood flow velocity (P = 0.04) and minimum blood flow velocity (P < 0.001), whereas the age-related increases in pulse wave velocity (P = 0.022), characteristic impedance (P = 0.021) and peripheral resistance (P = 0."},{"id":"source_8","type":"source","study":"Effects of Bafa Wubu and He-Style Tai Chi exercise training on physical fitness of overweight male university students: A randomized controlled trial","year":2024,"doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0297117","url":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297117","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"direct","cited_as":"Niu 2024","excerpt":"This study aimed to compare the effects of 12-week Bafa Wubu Tai Chi (BW-TC) and traditional He-style Tai Chi (TH-TC) exercise training on physical fitness parameters in overweight university students and to compare the differences in their effects. A total of 81 overweight male university students were randomly assigned to the BW-TC group (N = 27), the TH-TC group (N = 27), and the control group (CG, N = 27). Upper limb grip strength, wall squat, sitting and reaching, 6-minute walk, single-leg stance, and Y-balance were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of Tai Chi training. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics and assessment parameters among the groups at baseline (p>0.05). Both BW-TC and TH-TC performed Tai Chi exercise program training lasting 12 weeks, with three sessions per week, each lasting 60 minutes intervention. The changes in mean scores for the sit-and-reach test were 3.11 cm and 4.52 cm, for the wall squat test were 27.56 s and 36.85 s, and for the 6-minute walk test were 22.93 m and 63.22 m, and Y-balance (p<0."},{"id":"source_9","type":"source","study":"Effect of Tai Chi exercise on bone health and fall prevention in postmenopausal women: a meta-analysis","year":2024,"doi":"10.1186/s13018-024-04962-y","url":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-024-04962-y","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Zhang 2024","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: The bone status of postmenopausal women is worsening. In fact, postmenopausal period is the high incidence stage of osteoporosis and falls. Notably, a recent study has pointed out that exercise can improve bone health in postmenopausal women. However, the effect of Tai Chi exercise on postmenopausal women is controversial. Therefore, a meta-analysis was designed to analyze the effect of Tai Chi exercise on bone health and fall prevention in postmenopausal women. METHODS: The researches on Tai Chi improving the bone health of postmenopausal women before August 31, 2023 were collected from Chinese and English databases, such as PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, etc. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Besides, R software 4.3.1 was employed to analyze the effect sizes in the meta-analysis to summarize the impact of Tai Chi on vertebral bone mineral density, serum calcium, clinical balance scores, the number of falls, total falls, and health status scores in postmenopausal women. RESULTS: There were 12 studies eventually included in this meta-analysis."},{"id":"source_10","type":"source","study":"The effects of different types of Tai Chi exercises on motor function in patients with Parkinson's disease: A network meta-analysis","year":2022,"doi":"10.3389/fnagi.2022.936027","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2022.936027","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Lei 2022","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Tai Chi can show improvement in balance and motor ability of elderly patients with PD. However, there were few reports on differences in outcomes associated with different types of Tai Chi on improving exercise capacity in elderly patients with PD. We compared the improvement of motor function in Parkinson's patients with different types of Tai Chi, for finding an optimal intervention. METHODS: The following databases were searched from the beginning of the establishment of each database to 10 January 2022: PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang Database, and VIP Database. Randomized controlled trials incorporating different types of Tai Chi for PD were included. The outcome measures were UPDRSIII and BBS. NMA was conducted using Stata 15.0 based on a frequentist framework. RESULTS: A total of twenty trials were eligible, including 996 participants. In conventional meta-analysis, as for the UPDRSIII scale, 24-form simplified Tai Chi (SMD = -1.272, 95% CI [-2.036, -0.508], P < 0.05, I 2 > 50%), Tai Chi exercise program (SMD = -0.839, 95% CI [-1.828, 0.151], P > 0.05, I 2 > 50%), 8-form simplified Yang style Tai Chi (SMD = -0.325, 95% CI [-1.362, 0."},{"id":"source_11","type":"source","study":"Meta-Analysis of Elderly Lower Body Strength: Different Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on the Knee Joint-Related Muscle Groups","year":2021,"doi":"10.1155/2021/8628182","url":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8628182","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Yang 2021","excerpt":"OBJECTIVE: To determine whether lower body strength such as keen extension and flexion strength may be improved by Tai Chi exercise in older adults from the perspective of evidence-based medicine. METHODS: Databases of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched up to July 1, 2021. Randomized clinical trials are adopted to compare Tai Chi exercise with sedentary behavior or other low intensity exercise in terms of influence on lower body strength rehabilitation, especially keen extension and flexion strength in people aged over 60. A meta-analysis was performed to discuss outcomes of lower body strength, knee muscle strength, and knee extension/flexion strength. RESULTS: A total of 25 randomized trials involving 1995 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. (1) Tai Chi exercise significantly improved elderly lower body strength (-0.54, [-0.81, -0.28], p < 0.00001, I 2 = 74%), but there was no differential improvement in the strength of the knee joints (0.10, [-0.02, 0.23], p =0.11, I 2 = 34%). (2) Elderly individual lower body strength declined with age, while this trend was suppressed by Tai Chi exercise (-0.35, [0.14, 0.56], p =0.001, I 2 = 70%)."},{"id":"source_12","type":"source","study":"An RCT META analysis based on the effect of tai chi exercise therapy on the outcome of elderly patients with moderate-to-severe sleep disorders-A systematic review study","year":2024,"doi":"10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24085","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24085","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Li 2024a","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: According to statistics, about one-fifth of the world's elderly people suffer from sleep disorders, and the problem of sleep disorders in the elderly is extremely serious, and this problem is one of the important causes of chronic diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and coronary heart disease in the elderly. The positive effect of Tai Chi exercise therapy on sleep problems has been confirmed, but at present, the effect of the specific duration of Tai Chi exercise on the improvement of elderly people with moderate to severe sleep disorders varies. OBJECTIVE: META analysis was used to investigate and find that long-term Tai Chi exercise therapy has the best effect on improving sleep in elderly patients with moderate to severe sleep disorders. Methods: META analysis was performed using Revman 5.3 after searching Web of science, Pubmed, Scopus, The Cochroae Library, OVID, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and other databases, and then filtering and extracting. RESULTS: A total of seven papers were included."},{"id":"source_13","type":"source","study":"Effects of sedentary behaviour and long-term regular Tai Chi exercise on dynamic stability control during gait initiation in older women","year":2024,"doi":"10.3389/fbioe.2024.1353270","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1353270","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Chen 2024","excerpt":"Background: Sedentary behaviour has been associated with an increased risk of falls among older adults. Although gait initiation (GI) is a promising tool used to assess fall risk, it has yet to be quantitatively evaluated for dynamic stability in sedentary populations. Tai Chi exercise is believed to be effective in preventing falls in older adults, but its effect on GI stability has not been quantified. This study aims to compare the stability of GI in sedentary older individuals versus those who are long-term Tai Chi exercisers by using a quantitative approach. Methods: This study included 17 sedentary older women without exercise habits (age: 65.59 ± 3.66 years, average daily sitting time: 8.735 ± 1.847 h/day) and 19 older women who regularly engage in Tai Chi exercise (age: 65.58 ± 3.63 years, years of exercise: 9.84 ± 3.48 years). Every participant underwent five trials of self-paced GI walking tests. Eight cameras and four force plates were used to obtain kinematic and kinetic parameters. The trajectory of the centre of mass (CoM) and the position of the foot placement were recorded."},{"id":"source_14","type":"source","study":"The influence of Tai Chi exercise on the subjective well-being in the aged: the mediating role of physical fitness and cognitive function","year":2023,"doi":"10.1186/s12877-023-04366-3","url":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04366-3","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Wang 2023","excerpt":"This study investigated the effects of Tai Chi exercise on subjective well-being in the aged. The participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group received 12-week Tai Chi exercise while the control group maintain their original living habits. The participants' subjective well-being, physical fitness, self-control, and executive function were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of Tai Chi exercise. Results: (1) Tai Chi exercise can positively affect the subjective well-being of the aged (F (1,78) = 37.699, p < 0.001); (2) Tai Chi exercise could affect the subjective well-being in the aged through the independent intermediary of physical fitness (95% CI=[0.115, 0.485]) and self-control (95% CI=[0.109, 0.433]); (3) Tai Chi exercise could indirectly affect the subjective well-being in the aged through the chain mediation of executive function and self-control (95% CI=[0.009, 0.104]). This study provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of Tai Chi exercise for subjective well-being in the aged."},{"id":"source_15","type":"source","study":"The association of Tai Chi exercise with the methylation levels of the IL20 promoter","year":2026,"doi":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1585153","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1585153","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Chiang 2026","excerpt":"OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the associations between DNA methylation levels of the IL-20 and Tai Chi exercise. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from the Taiwan Biobank, including 2,286 individuals aged 30-70, were analyzed. Methylation levels were assessed using the Infinium® MethylationEPIC BeadChipEPIC array. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the associations between exercise types and methylation levels. The analysis revealed that participants who engaged in Tai Chi exhibited significantly higher methylation levels of the IL-20 promoter (mean β = 0.9405, SE ± 0.0019) compared to those who did not exercise (mean β = 0.9376, SE ± 0.0004). In univariate regression, Tai Chi exercise was positively associated with IL-20 promoter methylation ( β = 0.00422, 95% CI: 0.00001-0.00843, p = 0.0493), whereas other forms of exercise showed a negative association ( β = -0.00160, 95% CI: -0.00266 to -0.00053). Men exhibited lower IL-20 methylation levels, while older age and obesity showed similar trends. In the multivariate regression analysis, Tai Chi exercise remained positively associated with IL-20 promoter methylation ( β = 0.00454, 95% CI: 0.00012-0.00896)."},{"id":"source_16","type":"source","study":"Effect of different types of Tai Chi exercise programs on the rate of change in bone mineral density in middle-aged adults at risk of osteoporosis: a randomized controlled trial","year":2023,"doi":"10.1186/s13018-023-04324-0","url":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-023-04324-0","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"direct","cited_as":"Kong 2023","excerpt":"OBJECTIVE: To evaluate three Tai Chi (TC) exercise programs as intervention measures to compare their effects on improving rate of change in bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly individuals with osteoporosis (OP) and to propose the optimal exercise duration. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to identify study participants based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Due to subject attrition, the number of participants analyzed decreased from 60 to 49. These participants were divided into four groups: 24-style TC Chuan group (24TCCG) (n = 13, 7 males/6 females), TC Kung Fu Fan group (TCKFFG) (n = 12, 5 males/7 females), TC Softball group (TCSBG) (n = 11, 6 males/5 females), and a control group (CG) (n = 13, 6 males/7 females). Except for the control group, each group received different TC exercise programs four times a week for 60 min per session, lasting for 16 weeks. BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the L2-L4 lumbar vertebrae, Ward's triangle, femoral neck, and greater trochanter. The rate of change of BMD was calculated using the formula."},{"id":"source_17","type":"source","study":"Tai Chi Exercise for Mental and Physical Well-Being in Patients with Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","year":2023,"doi":"10.3390/ijerph20042828","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042828","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Sani 2023","excerpt":"Tai Chi is a mindfulness-body practice that has physiological and psychosocial benefits and can be integrated into the prevention and rehabilitation of various medical conditions; however, the effectiveness of Tai Chi in the treatment of depression remains unclear. This review aimed to determine the effects of Tai Chi exercise on mental and physical well-being in patients with depressive symptoms. We searched databases for English language publications that appeared during January 2000-2022. The included trials were RCTs that involved people with depression with no other medical conditions, and included both adolescent and adult samples. A meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model and the heterogeneity was estimated using I 2 statistics. The quality of each trial was assessed according to the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. The eight trials were divided into two comparisons: (1) a combination of Tai Chi and antidepressants versus standard antidepressants; (2) Tai Chi versus no intervention."},{"id":"source_18","type":"source","study":"The effects of different types of Tai Chi exercise on anxiety and depression in older adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis","year":2024,"doi":"10.3389/fpubh.2023.1295342","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1295342","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Kuang 2024","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: The body of evidence supporting the beneficial effects of Tai Chi in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms in older adults is steadily increasing. Nonetheless, there remains a scarcity of studies directly comparing the clinical effectiveness of various Tai Chi exercises in addressing anxiety and depressive symptoms in older adults. Thus, this study aimed to systematically review and analyze the therapeutic efficacy of four types of Tai Chi interventions in enhancing anxiety and depressive symptoms in older adults. METHODS: During the period up to July 26, 2023, searches were conducted in the Web of Science, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, and the Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP). The language scope encompassed both English and Chinese. Two independent reviewers conducted the literature review and data extraction. Review Manager 5.4 was employed for traditional meta-analysis and risk assessment, while version 15 of STATA software was used for generating evidence and funnel plots for network meta-analysis. This study was registered in PROSPERO number CRD 42023442270."},{"id":"source_19","type":"source","study":"BEAM study (Breathing, Education, Awareness, Movement): a randomised controlled feasibility trial of tai chi exercise in patients with COPD","year":2020,"doi":"10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000697","url":"https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000697","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"direct","cited_as":"Yeh 2020","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Despite therapeutic advances, the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains complex. There is growing interest in multidimensional, mind-body exercises to improve both physical and psychosocial aspects of COPD burden. Few US data are available in this population on tai chi (TC) a mind-body exercise incorporating physical activity, breathing and mindful awareness. We explored feasibility and preliminary efficacy of TC in COPD in an US academic medical setting. METHODS: Patients with COPD Global Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages 2-4 were randomised to a 12-week TC programme or education control. At 12 weeks, those in TC were randomised again to continue in maintenance classes or not to further explore optimal duration. All groups were followed to 24 weeks. Feasibility/safety parameters were analysed descriptively. Preliminary between-group differences were estimated in symptoms (dyspnoea, fatigue), health-related quality-of-life (Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire CRQ), cognitive-emotional measures (mood, COPD self-efficacy) and functional status (6 min walk test, lower body strength, flexibility, physical activity)."},{"id":"source_20","type":"source","study":"An RCT META analysis based on the efficacy of Tai Chi exercise therapy on blood pressure and blood lipids in patients with essential hypertension","year":2025,"doi":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1506912","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1506912","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Xu 2025","excerpt":"OBJECTIVE: Tai Chi is a form of physical and mental exercise. Hypertension, characterized by persistently elevated blood pressure, is a prevalent cardiovascular condition. At present, the effect of Tai Chi exercise cycle on improving the prognosis of patients with essential hypertension, as well as its impact on patients at different stages of hypertension, has not yet been demonstrated. Through meta-analysis, this study systematically evaluated the effects of Tai Chi on hypertensive patients, as well as the roles played by different practice duration, so as to provide evidence-based guidance for future clinical application. METHODS: This meta-analysis, registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42024538168), reviewed RCTs involving Tai Chi interventions for hypertension. Studies were sourced from PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, WANFANG, and Embase. Mean differences (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. The sources of heterogeneity were explored using the elimination method one by one and subgroup analysis, supplemented by sensitivity analysis and publication bias assessment."},{"id":"source_21","type":"source","study":"Exploring the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine exercise in alleviating anxiety and depression in older adults: a comprehensive study with randomized controlled trial and network meta-analysis","year":2023,"doi":"10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1290471","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1290471","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Dong 2023","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depression pose a significant global health challenge for elderly individuals. Research has demonstrated the potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) exercise therapies in alleviating these conditions. However, ongoing debate and uncertainty persist regarding the optimal therapy and its impact on anxiety and depression. This study aims to evaluate and prioritize TCM exercise therapies for anxiety and depression in older adults, to identify the most effective intervention, and to provide a basis for informed decision-making in clinical practice. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases including The Web of Science, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wang Fang, and Wei Pu database up to July 2022. Two researchers independently reviewed all included studies and extracted relevant data. Traditional meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager version 5.4, while network meta-analysis was conducted using STATA software version 15.1 to generate network evidence plots and funnel plots. RESULT: A total of 30 trials, involving 2,806 participants, met the eligibility criteria."},{"id":"source_22","type":"source","study":"Effectiveness of Tai chi exercise on overall quality of life and its physical and psychological components among older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis","year":2020,"doi":"10.1590/1414-431X202010196","url":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431X202010196","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Wang 2020","excerpt":"With the aging of the world's population, the quality of life of older adults is becoming more important. There are many studies on the use of Tai chi exercise, a popular form of mind-body exercise practiced by older adults. However, the effectiveness of Tai chi exercise on the quality of life of older adults is unclear. For this systematic review and meta-analysis, six databases (PubMed, CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus, CNKI) were searched in English and Chinese languages to screen for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCT), and their risk of bias was assessed by two independent reviewers. The results of quality of life, physical component, and psychological component among older adults were meta-analyzed using RevMan5.3 software. The search retrieved 2577 records. After screening, a total of 10 RCTs were included in this evaluation, with a total of 1170 participants. The meta-analysis showed that compared with the control group, Tai chi exercise had a significant impact on the overall quality of life (SMD=1.23; 95%CI: 0.56-1.98; P<0.0001), and on the physical component of quality of life (MD=5.90; 95%CI: 1.05-10.75; P=0."},{"id":"source_23","type":"source","study":"The relationship between mobile phone dependence, self-control, and Tai Chi exercise among sub-health older adults in urban areas: a latent profile analysis","year":2026,"doi":"10.3389/fpubh.2026.1759896","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1759896","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Hao 2026","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: The study explores the interconnection between the latent categories of mobile phone dependency and self-control in the sub-healthy urban older adults practicing Tai Chi. The findings aim to provide a reference for preventing mobile phone dependence, enhancing self-control and improving sub-health status in this population. METHODS: A multi-stage cluster sampling method was employed to screen 560 sub-healthy urban older adults from 2,946 valid survey responses in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province. Sub-health status was verified using the SHMS V1.0 scale. Data were collected between September and October 2025. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to categorize mobile phone dependency and self-control. Pearson correlation analysis measured the relationship between these two variables. Additionally, chi-square test examined demographic differences across the identified latent profiles. Finally, multivariate logistic regression analyzed the associations between mobile phone dependency, self-control, and Tai Chi exercise. RESULTS: LPA identified four distinct profiles: Low dependency-Medium control (109 individuals, 19.5%), High dependency-No control (207 individuals, 37."},{"id":"source_24","type":"source","study":"The effects of Tai Chi exercise on sleep quality among the elderly: a study based on polysomnographic monitoring","year":2024,"doi":"10.3389/fneur.2024.1304463","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2024.1304463","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Wang 2024","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders contribute to an increased risk of depression, cardiovascular issues, and various other diseases among older individuals. Consequently, enhancing the sleep quality of this demographic population has become a pressing concern. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of an 8-week Tai Chi exercise intervention in the sleep quality of older adults. METHODS: Sixty individuals aged 60 years and above, recruited from the community around Southwest University in Beibei District, Chongqing City, were randomly assigned to either a control group (30 participants) or an intervention group (30 participants). The control group adhered to their normal daily routines during the 8-week experimental period, while the intervention group engaged in a 60-min Tai Chi practice three times a week for 8 weeks. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Additionally, the Polysomnographic Sleep Quality Monitoring System (PSG) was employed to monitor the sleep process before and after the Tai Chi intervention."},{"id":"source_25","type":"source","study":"Effects of Tai Chi exercise on pain, functional status, and quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis","year":2024,"doi":"10.5606/tftrd.2024.13140","url":"https://doi.org/10.5606/tftrd.2024.13140","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Kalebota 2024","excerpt":"OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the impact of a Tai Chi exercise program (TCEP) on pain, spinal flexibility, muscle strength, stability and balance, functional status, and quality of life (QoL) among home-dwelling patients with osteoarthritis (OA) or inflammatory arthritis (iA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 2018 and April 2019, a total of 28 participants (4 males, 24 females; median age: 62 years; range, 34 to 79 years) who completed the training program participating in at least 18 sessions were included. The TCEP consisted of 50 sessions for 60 min twice a week. The average attendance rate was high (78%, 39 sessions). RESULTS: Chest mobility (breathing index, p<0.001), sagittal mobility of cervical (p<0.001), thoracic (p=0.009), and lumbar spine (Schober's test, p<0.001) improved significantly in participants with OA and iA. The improvement in functional status was significant only in participants with OA (Lequesne index, p=0.014). Although the change in Lequesne index was statistically significant, the median value remained in the range of severe disability and the change did not reach the minimal clinically important difference."},{"id":"source_26","type":"source","study":"Impacts of tai chi exercise on functional fitness in community-dwelling older adults with mild degenerative knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled clinical trial","year":2021,"doi":"10.1186/s12877-021-02390-9","url":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02390-9","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"direct","cited_as":"Chen 2021","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Degenerative osteoarthritis (OA) often leads to pain and stiffness of the affected joints, which may affect the physical performance and decrease the quality of life of people with degenerative knee OA. Compared to traditional exercise, tai chi is a safe exercise with slow movements which can facilitate physical functioning and psychological well being, and might be suitable for improving the physical activities of older adults with knee OA. Therefore, this study investigated the impacts of tai chi exercise on the functional fitness of community-dwelling older adults with degenerative knee OA. METHODS: Sixty-eight community-dwelling older adults with knee OA were recruited from the local community to participate in this randomized controlled clinical trial. All subjects were randomly assigned to either an TCE group that practiced tai chi exercise (TCE) (n = 36) or a control group (CON) (n = 32) that received regular health education programs twice per week for 12 weeks."},{"id":"source_27","type":"source","study":"Effectiveness of Tai Chi exercise on balance, falls, and motor function in older adults: a meta-analysis","year":2024,"doi":"10.3389/fmed.2024.1486746","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1486746","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Li 2024b","excerpt":"OBJECTIVE: This study systematically evaluated Tai Chi's effects on balance, fall prevention, and physical function in older adults. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and EMbase databases included randomized controlled trials published up to August 2024. The meta-analysis used RevMan 5.4 and applied the GRADE framework to assess evidence quality. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies met the criteria. Tai Chi significantly improved balance and physical function, particularly in the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), one-leg standing with eyes closed (OLS-C), and Timed up-and-go test (TUG). Fear of falling (FOF) also reduced, though changes in Tinetti Balance Test (TBT) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Tai Chi effectively enhances balance and physical function in older adults, with notable potential for fall risk reduction. While some tests showed no significant effect, overall results support Tai Chi as a valuable intervention to promote older adults' health. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2024-8-0082/."},{"id":"source_28","type":"source","study":"The Impact of Tai Chi Exercise on Health Care Utilization and Imputed Cost in Residents of Low-Income Senior Housing","year":2021,"doi":"10.1177/2164956120985479","url":"https://doi.org/10.1177/2164956120985479","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Perloff 2021","excerpt":"BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to test the impact of Tai Chi (TC) on healthcare utilization and cost in older adults living in low-income senior housing. We hypothesized that TC would improve overall health enough to reduce the use of emergency department (ED) and inpatient services. DESIGN: Cluster randomized controlled trial with randomization at the housing site level. SETTING: Greater Boston, Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: The study includes 6 sites with 75 individuals in the TC treatment condition and 6 sites with 67 individuals in the health education control condition. INTERVENTION: Members of the treatment group received up to a year-long intervention with twice weekly, in-person TC exercise sessions along with video-directed exercises that could be done independently at home. The comparison group received monthly, in-person healthy aging education classes (HE). Study recruitment took place between August, 2015 and October, 2017. Key outcomes included acute care utilization (inpatient stays, observation stays and emergency department visits)."},{"id":"source_29","type":"source","study":"Functional outcomes of Tai Chi exercise prescription in women with knee osteoarthritis","year":2022,"doi":"10.1016/j.smhs.2022.10.001","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2022.10.001","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Kang 2022","excerpt":"Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) is the most common type of knee joint injury and also a risk factor for multiple health consequences and is prevalent among older women. The updated clinical guidelines for KOA treatment by the American Rheumatism Association recommend Tai Chi exercise. However, a literature review outlined limitations in Tai Chi intervention implementations. This study aimed to address some of the gaps. This study selected thirty female patients to participate in Tai Chi exercises and undergo relevant tests. The subjects were randomly assigned to Tai Chi or education groups. Independent sample t-tests were conducted to compare the difference in health indicators between the two groups after the intervention. The difference-in-differences (DID) regression was performed to assess the difference in the health outcomes between the two groups at baseline and follow-up and the difference in the differences. After the completion of the intervention, the Tai Chi group reported significantly improved KOA symptoms, physical fitness, and health status indicators than the control group."},{"id":"source_30","type":"source","study":"Effects of Tai Chi exercise on improving walking function and posture control in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis","year":2021,"doi":"10.1097/MD.0000000000025655","url":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000025655","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"You 2021","excerpt":"OBJECTIVE: It remains unclear whether Tai Chi is effective for walking function and posture control improvements in aged populations with knee osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the effects of Tai Chi on improving walking function and posture control in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis by updating the latest trial evidence. METHODS: Web of Science, PubMed/Medline, Embase, Scopus, PEDro, and Cochrane library were searched up to October 1, 2020 to identify RCTs evaluating Tai Chi for improving walking function and posture control in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. The primary outcomes were walking function and posture control. Meta-analysis was performed with RevMan Version 5.3 software. RESULTS: A total of 603 participants with knee osteoarthritis in the 11 trials were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: The Tai Chi group was associated with better performance in 6-minute walk test (6 MWT), time up and go test (TUG) and \"Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index\" Physical Function Score than the control group ([MD: 46.67, 95% CI 36.91-56.43, P < .001]), ([MD: -0.89, 95% CI -1.16 to -0."},{"id":"source_31","type":"source","study":"Effect of Tai Chi exercise on lower limb function and balance ability in patients with knee osteoarthritis","year":2021,"doi":"10.1097/MD.0000000000027647","url":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000027647","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Zheng 2021","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease commonly occurring in middle-aged and elderly people. The main clinical manifestations are joint pain, limited activity, and decreased muscle strength resulting in decreased motor control ability. Exercise therapy is an effective method to enhance muscle strength of lower limbs, while China's traditional skill Tai Chi (TC) is a combination of activity and inertia, internal and external exercise therapy. In recent years, scholars at home and abroad have found that regular TC can effectively improve patients' lower limb function and balance ability. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of TC on lower limb function and balance ability in patients with KOA. METHODS: This is a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial. One hundred forty-six cases of KOA patients will be randomly divided into experimental group and control group according to 1:1 ratio, 73 cases in each group, the control group: sodium hyaluronate; experimental group: TC added on the basis of the control group. Both groups will receive standard treatment for 5 weeks and will be followed up for 3 months."},{"id":"source_32","type":"source","study":"Tai Chi exercise can ameliorate physical and mental health of patients with knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis.","year":2021,"doi":"10.1177/0269215520954343","url":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215520954343","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Hu 2021","excerpt":"OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the effects of Tai Chi exercise as a nonpharmacological therapeutic strategy on the physical and mental health in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. DATA SOURCES: A systematic literature retrieval has been conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, CENTRAL, OVID, CINAHL, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Chinese Biomedical Database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure up to June 2020 to identify the relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: Two authors assessed independently the risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. Standardised mean difference (SMD) and 95% CI were calculated and data were combined using the fixed or random-effect model. The strength of evidence was rated with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. RESULTS: A total of 16 RCTs involving 986 patients with knee osteoarthritis met the established inclusion criteria. The strength of evidence for the main outcomes was low or moderate. The systematic review illustrated the efficacy of Tai Chi exercise in treating and managing knee osteoarthritis."},{"id":"source_33","type":"source","study":"Safety and effects of a home-based Tai Chi exercise rehabilitation program in patients with chronic heart failure: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial","year":2023,"doi":"10.3389/fcvm.2023.1237539","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1237539","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"direct","cited_as":"Jiao 2023","excerpt":"INTRODUCTION: Chronic heart failure (CHF), as the final stage of the progression of many cardiovascular disorders, is one of the main causes of hospitalization and death in the elderly and has a substantial impact on patients' quality of life (QOL). Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been shown to considerably enhance QOL and prognosis. Given the barriers to center-based CR faced by most developing countries in the form of expensive instruments, the development of home-based CR is necessary. Tai Chi, as an instrument-free exercise, has been shown to be successful in treating elderly CHF individuals. Fu Yang, as one of the academic concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), believes that the fundamental pathogenesis of CHF is the gradual decline of Yang, and emphasizes the restoration of Yang physiological function in the treatment process. Therefore, we develope a home-based Tai Chi exercise rehabilitation program called Fu Yang Tai Chi (FYTC) for elderly CHF patients by combining the Fu Yang Theory of TCM with the CR theory. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness, acceptability, and safety of the program."},{"id":"source_34","type":"source","study":"Tai Chi exercise reduces circulating levels of inflammatory oxylipins in postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis: results from a pilot study","year":2023,"doi":"10.3389/fmed.2023.1210170","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1210170","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Shen 2023","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Tai Chi (TC) controls pain through mind-body exercise and appears to alter inflammatory mediators. TC actions on lipid biomarkers associated with inflammation and brain neural networks in women with knee osteoarthritic pain were investigated. METHODS: A single-center, pre- and post-TC group (baseline and 8 wk) exercise pilot study in postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritic pain was performed. 12 eligible women participated in TC group exercise. The primary outcome was liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry determination of circulating endocannabinoids (eCB) and oxylipins (OxL). Secondary outcomes were correlations between eCB and OxL levels and clinical pain/limitation assessments, and brain resting-state function magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). RESULTS: Differences in circulating quantitative levels (nM) of pro-inflammatory OxL after TC were found in women. TC exercise resulted in lower OxL PGE 1 and PGE 2 and higher 12-HETE, LTB 4 , and 12-HEPE compared to baseline. Pain assessment and eCB and OxL levels suggest crucial relationships between TC exercise, inflammatory markers, and pain."},{"id":"source_35","type":"source","study":"Efficacy and safety of tai chi exercise on bone health: An umbrella review","year":2023,"doi":"10.1007/s00198-023-06830-7","url":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-023-06830-7","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Li 2023","excerpt":"PURPOSE: To critically evaluate systematic reviews (SRs) of the Tai Chi (TC) exercise on bone health and provide more recently available evidence. METHODS: SRs with or without meta-analysis (MA) of TC on bone health were comprehensively searched in eight electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and Chinese Scientific Journals Database) and in the international prospective register of systematic reviews of (PROSPERO) from initiation to March 2023. Descriptive analyses of SRs were performed, and reporting and methodological quality of the included SRs were evaluated using the updated version of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist and A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2). The certainty of the synthesized evidence was assessed with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: Eighteen SRs, 15 with MAs, were included. Forty-nine RCTs and 16 NRSIs with 3956 and 1157 participants, respectively, were included in these SRs."},{"id":"source_36","type":"source","study":"TaiChi-MSS protocol: enhancing cognitive and brain function in MCI patients through Tai Chi exercise combined with multisensory stimulation","year":2025,"doi":"10.3389/fnagi.2025.1514127","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1514127","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Zhou 2025","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: The aging population in China is confronted with considerable challenges, with 14.71% of elderly individuals affected by mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The practice of Tai Chi has been demonstrated to enhance cognitive function, while sensory stimulation has been shown to facilitate neural activity. Nevertheless, the combined impact of Tai Chi and sensory stimulation on cognitive, sensory functions, and brain activation in older adults with MCI remains uncertain. This study aims to ascertain whether the integration of Tai Chi with sensory stimulation can facilitate more efficacious interventions for these outcomes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The TaiChi-MSS (Tai Chi and Multisensory Stimulation for Cognitive Function) study is a multi-center, randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Suzhou and Shanghai, enrolling 88 participants aged 60 years or older with MCI. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: Tai Chi, multisensory stimulation, Tai Chi combined with multisensory stimulation or control. The intervention will last 6 months, with follow-up assessments at 3, 6, and 9 months."},{"id":"source_37","type":"source","study":"Tai Chi exercise and neuroplasticity: a narrative review according to neural mechanisms and clinical utilizations in brain health","year":2026,"doi":"10.3389/fnins.2026.1769779","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2026.1769779","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Jin 2026","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Neuroplasticity is the core process by which the brain responds to aging, learning, and injury. Reporting positive non-pharmacological intervention approaches to promote neural plasticity is a core focus of contemporary neuroscience and rehabilitation medicine. Tai Chi (TC), as a traditional Chinese physical and mental practice that deeply combines soothing body movements, breathing regulation, and spiritual focus, is increasingly attracting attention from the scientific community for its role in facilitating brain health. OBJECTIVE: Our review seeks to combine recent evidence, elucidate how TC promotes neural plasticity via multi-level mechanisms, discuss its advantages in promoting cognitive, motor, and emotional functions, and investigate its clinical utilization prospects and future research challenges in neurorehabilitation."},{"id":"source_38","type":"source","study":"Quality of Evidence Supporting the Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on Essential Hypertension: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses","year":2022,"doi":"10.1155/2022/4891729","url":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4891729","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Shi 2022","excerpt":"OBJECTIVES: Tai Chi (TC) is a potential complementary treatment for essential hypertension (EH). This overview systematically summarizes and evaluates the existing evidence of TC in the therapy of EH. METHODS: Systematic reviews (SRs)/meta-analyses (MAs) on TC interventions for EH were comprehensively searched in seven databases. Methodological quality, risk of bias, reporting quality, and quality of evidence were assessed by means of the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2), the Risk of Bias in Systematic (ROBIS) scale, the list of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), as well as the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. RESULTS: Twelve published SRs/MAs were included in our study. According to the results of the AMSTAR-2, ROBIS, PRISMA, and GRADE assessment, only 1 SR/MA was assessed as high quality and only 1 SR/MA was assessed as low risk of bias. Only 2 SRs/MAs have been fully reported on the checklist."},{"id":"source_39","type":"source","study":"Effectiveness of Tai Chi Exercise Program on Sleep, Quality of Life, and Physical Performance in Postmenopausal Working Women","year":2022,"doi":"10.4103/jmh.jmh_223_21","url":"https://doi.org/10.4103/jmh.jmh_223_21","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Jain 2022","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Menopause being an unavoidable time in every woman's life brings up various challenges. Inevitable changes in body systems affect the life of a woman permanently. The symptoms constitute the postmenopausal syndrome which further affects the quality of life (QOL). Women spend most of the time working during the menopausal transition period and also during postmenopause. The discussion of symptoms is still considered a taboo. Exercise intervention to reduce the symptoms related to menopause which can show a positive impact on health status and work needs to be incorporated. METHODOLOGY: Tai Chi exercise intervention was given for 8 weeks to the women who achieved natural menopause and were included in the study ( n = 76). They were assessed for sleep, QOL, and physical performance before and after the intervention. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed in all the outcomes after 8 weeks of intervention (Sleep Quality Scale (SQS)- t = 7.57, P = 0.0001; WHOQOL-BREF- t = 7.56, P = 0.0001; and Physical Performance Test PPT-t = 19.93, P = 0.0001). The results were consistent due to the active participation and high adherence rate of the individuals to the protocol."},{"id":"source_40","type":"source","study":"Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on Balance Function in Stroke Patients: An Overview of Systematic Review","year":2022,"doi":"10.1155/2022/3895514","url":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3895514","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Hu 2022","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Tai chi (TC) has received increased attention in stroke rehabilitation, yet services are greatly underutilized. An increasing number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) have begun to investigate the effects of TC on balance function in stroke patients. The aim of this current study was to systematically collate, appraise, and synthesize the results of these SRs/MAs using a systematic overview. METHODS: Eight databases were searched: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, SinoMed, Chongqing VIP, and Wanfang Data. SRs/MAs of TC on balance function in stroke patients were included. Literature selection, data extraction, and assessment of the review quality were performed by two independent reviewers. Methodological quality was assessed by the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2), reporting quality by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and evidence quality by Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). RESULTS: Nine SRs/MAs were included in this study."},{"id":"source_41","type":"source","study":"The beneficial effects of Tai Chi exercise on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in elderly women with rheumatoid arthritis","year":2015,"doi":"10.1186/s13075-015-0893-x","url":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-015-0893-x","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Shin 2015","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been known to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Tai Chi exercise on CVD risk in elderly women with RA. METHOD: In total, 56 female patients with RA were assigned to either a Tai Chi exercise group (29 patients) receiving a 3-month exercise intervention once a week or a control group (27 patients) receiving general information about the benefits of exercise. All participants were assessed at baseline and at 3 months for RA disease activity (Disease Activity Score 28 and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3), functional disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire), CVD risk factors (blood pressure, lipids profile, body composition, and smoking), and three atherosclerotic measurements: carotid intima-media thickness, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). RESULTS: FMD, representative of endothelial function, significantly increased in the Tai Chi exercise group (initial 5.85 ± 2.05 versus 3 months 7.75 ± 2.53%) compared with the control group (initial 6.31 ± 2.12 versus 3 months 5.78 ± 2.13%) (P = 1."},{"id":"source_42","type":"source","study":"Impact of Tai Chi exercise on multiple fracture-related risk factors in post-menopausal osteopenic women: a pilot pragmatic, randomized trial","year":2012,"doi":"10.1186/1472-6882-12-7","url":"https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-12-7","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"direct","cited_as":"Wayne 2012","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Tai Chi (TC) is a mind-body exercise that shows potential as an effective and safe intervention for preventing fall-related fractures in the elderly. Few randomized trials have simultaneously evaluated TC's potential to reduce bone loss and improve fall-predictive balance parameters in osteopenic women. METHODS: In a pragmatic randomized trial, 86 post-menopausal osteopenic women, aged 45-70, were recruited from community clinics. Women were assigned to either nine months of TC training plus usual care (UC) vs. UC alone. Primary outcomes were changes between baseline and nine months of bone mineral density (BMD) of the proximal femur and lumbar spine (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) and serum markers of bone resorption and formation. Secondary outcomes included quality of life. In a subsample (n = 16), quiet standing fall-predictive sway parameters and clinical balance tests were also assessed. Both intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were employed. RESULTS: For BMD, no intent-to-treat analyses were statistically significant; however, per protocol analyses (i.e."},{"id":"source_43","type":"source","study":"Tai Chi exercise and functional electrical stimulation of lower limb muscles for rehabilitation in older adults with chronic systolic heart failure: a non-randomized clinical trial","year":2019,"doi":"10.1590/1414-431X20198786","url":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431X20198786","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"direct","cited_as":"Hao 2019","excerpt":"Exercise-based training decreases hospitalizations in heart failure patients but such patients have exercise intolerance. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effect of 12 weeks of Tai Chi exercise and lower limb muscles' functional electrical stimulation in older chronic heart failure adults. A total of 1,084 older adults with chronic systolic heart failure were included in a non-randomized clinical trial (n=271 per group). The control group did not receive any kind of intervention, one group received functional electrical stimulation of lower limb muscles (FES group), another group practiced Tai Chi exercise (TCE group), and another received functional electrical stimulation of lower limb muscles and practiced Tai Chi exercise (FES & TCE group). Quality of life and cardiorespiratory functions of all patients were evaluated. Compared to the control group, only FES group had increased Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) score (P<0.0001, q=9.06), only the TCE group had decreased heart rate (P<0.0001, q=5.72), and decreased peak oxygen consumption was reported in the TCE group (P<0.0001, q=9.15) and FES & TCE group (P<0.0001, q=10.69)."},{"id":"source_44","type":"source","study":"Green tea polyphenols supplementation and Tai Chi exercise for postmenopausal osteopenic women: safety and quality of life report","year":2010,"doi":"10.1186/1472-6882-10-76","url":"https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-10-76","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"indirect","cited_as":"Shen 2010","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that both green tea polyphenols (GTP) and Tai Chi (TC) exercise may benefit bone health in osteopenic women. However, their safety in this population has never been systematically investigated. In particular, there have been hepatotoxicity concerns related to green tea extract. This study was to evaluate the safety of 24 weeks of GTP supplementation combined with TC exercise in postmenopausal osteopenic women, along with effects on quality of life in this population. METHODS: 171 postmenopausal women with osteopenia were randomly assigned to 4 treatment arms for 24 weeks: (1) Placebo (500 mg starch/day), (2) GTP (500 mg GTP/day), (3) Placebo + TC (placebo plus TC training at 60 min/session, 3 sessions/week), and (4) GTP + TC (GTP plus TC training). Safety was examined by assessing liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase), alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin at baseline and every 4 weeks. Kidney function (urea nitrogen and creatinine), calcium, and inorganic phosphorus were also assessed at the same times. Qualify of life using SF-36 questionnaire was evaluated at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks."},{"id":"source_45","type":"source","study":"Comparative effects of Yi Jin Jing versus Tai Chi exercise training on benign prostatic hyperplasia-related outcomes in older adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial","year":2016,"doi":"10.1186/s13063-016-1448-4","url":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-016-1448-4","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"direct","cited_as":"Liu 2016","excerpt":"BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and its associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) occur very commonly in older men. BPH and LUTS cause substantial physical and psychological impairment that could seriously affect the quality of late life and greatly cost the health-care systems. Current surgical and pharmacological therapies are expensive, may not effectively improve prostate function and health but cause adverse effects. There is an urgent need to find new and effective non-pharmacological preventions and treatments. Yi Jin Jing and Tai Chi are two common traditional Chinese mind-body exercises with different movements and techniques, but both emphasize regulating functional homeostasis and keeping whole body harmony. Yi Jin Jing and Tai Chi have not been studied much for potentially use in the treatment of BPH-related problems. The primary purpose of this protocol is to assess the effectiveness of Yi Jin Jing versus Tai Chi on the monographic and functional changes of prostate in older men. METHODS/DESIGN: A prospective single-center randomized controlled trial will be conducted."},{"id":"source_46","type":"source","study":"Effect of Tai Chi Exercise on Balance Function of Stroke Patients: A Meta-Analysis","year":2018,"doi":"10.12659/MSMBR.911951","url":"https://doi.org/10.12659/MSMBR.911951","population":"not extracted","intervention_or_exposure":"not extracted","comparator":"not extracted","endpoint":"not extracted","effect":"not extracted","risk_of_bias":"not appraised in public sidecar","directness":"review","cited_as":"Wu 2018","excerpt":"BACKGROUND Tai Chi is an ancient form of physical activity that has been shown to improve cardiovascular function, but to date there had been no comprehensive systematic review on the effect of Tai Chi exercise on balance function of patients with stroke. This study evaluated the effect of Tai Chi exercise on balance function in stroke patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS PubMed, Cochrane library, and China National Knowledge Information databases and the Wan Fang medical network were searched to collect the articles. The random-effects model was used to assess the effect of Tai Chi exercise on balance function of stroke patients. RESULTS Six studies were chosen to perform the meta-analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. There were significant improvements of balance on Berg Balance Scale score (MD=4.823, 95% CI: 2.138-7.508), the standing balance with fall rates (RR=0.300, 95%CI: 0.120-0.770), functional reach test and dynamic gait index in Tai Chi intervention group compared to the control intervention group."}],"edges":[{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_1","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_2","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_3","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_4","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_5","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_6","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_7","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_8","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_9","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_10","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_11","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_12","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_13","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_14","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_15","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_16","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_17","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_18","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_19","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_20","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_21","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_22","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_23","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_24","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_25","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_26","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_27","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_28","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_29","type":"contains_claim"},{"from":"29128105-c2a4-458c-82fa-0e4185e828f9","to":"claim_30","type":"contains_claim"}],"screening":{"identified":46,"screened":46,"excluded":0,"included":46,"included_or_retained":46,"flow":["identified","screened","excluded_with_reasons","included"],"wording":"46 candidate receipts retained after source retrieval, deduplication, and topic filtering. 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