Tai chi improves balance performance in healthy older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

作者：Zhibo Cui, Jin Xiong, Zhihua Li, Chengbo Yang · 发表于：Frontiers in Public Health · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.3389/fpubh.2024.1443168 · 被引用次数：19 · 研究领域：Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention、Martial Arts: Techniques, Psychology, and Education、Scoliosis diagnosis and treatment

Background Previous research has indicated that tai chi exercise can effectively enhance balance performance in patients; however, its impact on healthy individuals remains uncertain. Therefore, this meta-analysis aims to investigate the effects of different intensities and styles of tai chi exercise on the balance performance of healthy older adult individuals. Methods A targeted search method was employed to identify studies investigating the impact of tai chi exercise on balance in older adults across a range of databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Central, EBSCO, CHKI, and Embase. The studies were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA and PERSiST guidelines, and two independent reviewers were responsible for the search, screening of results, extraction of data, and assessment of study quality. A random-effects model was employed to calculate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results 2000 participants who met inclusion criteria were included in analyses across 28 trials. The findings indicated that tai chi can enhance the balance performance of healthy older adults, as demonstrated by the Timed Up and Go test (WMD = −1.04, 95% CI: −1.36 to-0.72, p < 0.00001, I 2 = 71%), functional Reach test (FR) (WMD = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.60 to 4.02, p < 0.00001, I 2 = 56%), and Berg Balance Scale (WMD = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.19 to 3.91, p = 0.0002, I 2 = 88%), as well as other balance tests such as SLS (WMD = 5.03, 95% CI: 3.08 to...