Tai Chi for the prevention of falls among older people: A critical analysis of the evidence.

Abstract

Despite interest as to the benefits of Tai Chi, there remains controversy over its effectiveness as an exercise intervention to prevent falls among older people. This review synthesises the evidence-base with a focus on meta-analyses and randomised controlled trials with community-dwelling older people. It provides a critical lens on the evidence and quality of trials. High quality evidence suggests that Tai Chi is an effective intervention to prevent falls in the community, however, there is unclear evidence for long-term care facilities and an absence of evidence for hospital settings. When compared directly with other exercise interventions, Tai Chi may offer a superior strategy to reduce falls through its benefits on cognitive functioning. Using data from the current Cochrane review, a new synthesis is presented suggesting that 71 - 81% of community-dwelling older people are adherent to class-based Tai Chi interventions. The practical opportunities and challenges for practitioners are discussed.