Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37736087›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2023

Tai Chi for fall prevention and balance improvement in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Weidong Chen, Min Li, Hai Li, Yanzhao Lin, Zhoushan Feng

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06876012 (Impact of Tai Chi on Balance and Fall Risk in Patients With Cervical Myelopathy), which is not on this map. Cited by 43 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
43citing papers in PubMed, 8 pooled it
32.1field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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

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

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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

NCT06876012 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Impact of Tai Chi on Balance and Fall Risk in Patients With Cervical Myelopathy

TypeinterventionalSponsorWest Virginia UniversityRan2026 to 2028Enrolled20ConditionsCervical Myelopathy, Balance Assessment, Fall RiskArmsTai Chi Program
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

43 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 44 citations in OpenAlex.

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  11. Frailty and COPD: a bidirectional relationship in the context of systemic and accelerated ageing.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2026
    Review
  12. Article
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  16. Comparative efficacy of different traditional Chinese exercises on bone mineral density in older adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2026
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Weidong ChenDepartment of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Nutrition, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan, China.
Min LiCollege and Hospital of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
Hai LiThe Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Yanzhao LinThe Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Zhoushan FengGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou, China.
Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine · CNGuangxi Medical University · CNThird Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and objective: As the population ages, the health of older adults is becoming a public health concern. Falls are a significant threat to their health due to weakened balance. This study aims to investigate the beneficial effects of Tai Chi on fall prevention and balance improvement in older adults. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials related to Tai Chi, falls, and balance ability, searching PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from their establishment until December 31, 2022. Two independent reviewers performed the search, screening of results, extraction of relevant data, and assessment of study quality. This study followed the PRISMA guidelines for systematic review and meta-analysis. Results: Totally 24 RCTs were included for meta-analysis, and the results showed that Tai Chi can effectively reduce the risk of falls in older adults (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.71 to 0.82) and decrease the number of falls (MD [95% CI]: -0.26 [-0.39, -0.13]). Tai Chi can also improve the balance ability of older adults, such as the timed up and go test (MD [95% CI]: -0.69 [-1.09, -0.29]) and the functional reach test (MD [95% CI]: 2.69 [1.14, 4.24]), as well as other balance tests such as single-leg balance test, Berg balance scale, and gait speed ( Conclusion: Tai Chi is an effective exercise for preventing falls and improving balance ability in older adults, whether they are healthy or at high risk of falling. The effectiveness of Tai Chi increases with exercise time and frequency. Yang-style Tai Chi is more effective than Sun-style Tai Chi. Systematic review registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier CRD42022354594.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsTai JiPostural BalanceRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTime and Motion Studiesbalancefallmeta-analysisolder adultsTai Chi

Identifiers

PMID37736087
PMCPMC10509476
OpenAlexW4386377361

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.