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The effects of different types of Tai Chi exercises on preventing falls in older adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

2024 systematic review and network meta-analysis of 17 RCTs (n=3,470 older adults) comparing four Tai Chi templates for fall prevention: pairwise meta-analysis favoured 24-form simplified Tai Chi versus control for fall incidence (RR 0.59) and Berg Balance Scale (MD +2.32); network ranking placed 24-form ahead of other styles for falls and balance in this corpus.

Design

  • Corpus: 17 RCTs, n = 3,470 older adults (Jan 2023 search cut-off)
  • Interventions compared: 24-form simplified Tai Chi, Yang style, Sun style, and a Tai Chi exercise program (TCEP) vs controls
  • Outcomes: fall incidence and Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
  • Analysis: frequentist network meta-analysis plus pairwise pooling

Pairwise vs-control highlights (abstract)

  • Falls — 24-form vs control: RR 0.59 (95% CI 0.40–0.86)
  • Balance — 24-form vs control: BBS MD +2.32 (95% CI 1.42–3.22)

Network ranking (interpret cautiously)

Authors report 24-form > Yang > Sun > control > TCEP for fall-incidence rankings and 24-form > TCEP > Yang > control for BBS rank probabilities—transitivity and study-quality limits apply.

Evidence hygiene

Included trials span multiple countries / instructor formats; do not over-read style labels without checking session dose and control activity in each RCT.

Publication

Lin J, Ning S, Lyu S, et al. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2024 Mar 13;36(1):65. doi: 10.1007/s40520-023-02674-7. PMID 38472538.

Outcomes

  • All-Cause Mortality Risk
    Events: /
  • Berg Balance Scale MD +2.32 vs control (95% CI 1.42–3.22) for 24-form Tai Chi in pairwise comparison.
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