SynthesisPloS one2015
Evidence base of clinical studies on Tai Chi: a bibliometric analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 49 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
49 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effects of different types of Tai Chi intervention on motor function in older adults: a systematic review.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2025Pooled it
- Determining the safety and effectiveness of Tai Chi: a critical overview of 210 systematic reviews of controlled clinical trials.Systematic reviews · 2022Pooled it
- Does tai chi improve psychological well-being and quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease and/or cardiovascular risk factors? A systematic review.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2022Pooled it
- Effect of Tai Chi on Markers of Oxidative Stress: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Pooled it
- Health benefits of tai chi: What is the evidence?Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 2016Pooled it
- Qigong in cancer care: a systematic review and construct analysis of effective Qigong therapy.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2016Pooled it
- Comparative effect of Tai Chi and aerobic exercise on cognitive function in advanced lung cancer survivors with perceived cognitive impairment: a three-arm randomized controlled trial with mediation analysis.Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice · 2025Trial
- Immediate impact of yogic breathing on pulsatile cerebrospinal fluid dynamics.Scientific reports · 2022Trial
- Comparison of the effects of Tai Chi and general aerobic exercise on weight, blood pressure and glycemic control among older persons with depressive symptoms: a randomized trial.BMC geriatrics · 2022Trial
- Exploratory outcome assessment of Qigong/Tai Chi Easy on breast cancer survivors.Complementary therapies in medicine · 2016Trial
- Global Trends in Tai Chi Research: A Bibliometric Analysis.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Tai chi in mental health interventions: a narrative review comparing its role with pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Review
- Evidence-Based Perspectives on Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Treatment: Current Advances and Clinical Relevance.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2026Review
- Tai chi or cognitive behavioural therapy for treating insomnia in middle aged and older adults: randomised non-inferiority trial.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2025Article
- The Science of Tai Chi andJournal of integrative and complementary medicine · 2025Review
- Non-Pharmacological Pain Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis.Current rheumatology reports · 2025Review
- Exploring the correlates of frequency of Tai Chi Chuan participation among Chinese adults in an urban context.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Effect of Tai Chi Compared to Running on Drug Cravings, Attention Bias, and Physical Fitness in Men with Methamphetamine Use Disorder.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Global trends and developments in mindfulness interventions for diabetes: a bibliometric study.Diabetology & metabolic syndrome · 2024Article
- Trends and hotspots related to traditional and modern approaches on acupuncture for stroke: A bibliometric and visualization analysis.Medicine · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe safety and health benefits of Tai Chi mind-body exercise has been documented in a large number of clinical studies focused on specific diseases and health conditions. The objective of this systematic review is to more comprehensively summarize the evidence base of clinical studies of Tai Chi for healthcare. METHODS AND
findingsWe searched for all types of clinical studies on Tai chi in PubMed, the Cochrane Library and four major Chinese electronic databases from their inception to July 2013. Data were analyzed using SPSS17.0 software. A total of 507 studies published between 1958 and 2013 were identified, including 43 (8.3%) systematic reviews of clinical studies, 255 (50.3%) randomized clinical trials, 90 (17.8%) non-randomized controlled clinical studies, 115 (22.7%) case series and 4 (0.8%) case reports. The top 10 diseases/conditions was hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis or osteopenia, breast cancer, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, schizophrenia, and depression. Many healthy participants practiced Tai Chi for the purpose of health promotion or preservation. Yang style Tai Chi was the most popular, and Tai Chi was frequently practiced two to three 1-hour sessions per week for 12 weeks. Tai Chi was used alone in more than half of the studies (58.6%), while in other studies Tai Chi was applied in combination with other therapies including medications, health education and other physical therapies. The majority of studies (94.1%) reported positive effects of Tai Chi, 5.1% studies reported uncertain effects and 0.8% studies reported negative effects. No serious adverse events related to Tai Chi were reported.
conclusionsThe quantity and evidence base of clinical studies on Tai Chi is substantial. However, there is a wide variation in Tai Chi intervention studied and the reporting of Tai Chi intervention needs to be improved. Further well-designed and reported studies are recommended to confirm the effects of Tai Chi for the frequently reported diseases/conditions.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.