Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (12)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Verhagen, A. P
Right arrow Articles by Bierma-Zeinstra, S. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Verhagen, A. P
Right arrow Articles by Bierma-Zeinstra, S. M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Family Practice Vol. 21, No. 1, 107-113
© Oxford University Press 2004, all rights reserved.

Article

The efficacy of Tai Chi Chuan in older adults: a systematic review

Arianne P Verhagen, Monique Immink, Annemieke van der Meulen and Sita MA Bierma-Zeinstra

Department of General Practice, Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands

E-mail: a.verhagen{at}erasmusmc.nl

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) on fall prevention, balance and cardiorespiratory functions in the elderly.

Methods. A systematic review was carried out according to the Cochrane standards. A computerized literature search was carried out. Studies were selected when they had an experimental design; the age of the study population was >50; one of the interventions was a form of TCC; and when falls, balance or cardiorespiratory functions were used as an outcome measure. A total of seven studies were included, with in total 505 participants, of whom all but 27 were healthy seniors, age between 53 and 96 years.

Results. In most studies, the intervention of TCC is a modified Yang style, varying from 10 to 24 forms. The intensity of TCC varies from 1 h weekly for 10 weeks to 1 h every morning for 1 year. One study used falls as outcome measure and reported a beneficial effect of 47% in the TCC group. All studies mention a beneficial effect of TCC, but in most studies this conclusion was based on a pre–post analysis.

Conclusion. There is limited evidence that TCC is effective in reducing falls and blood pressure in the elderly.

Keywords. Elderly, fall prevention, systematic review, Tai Chi Chuan.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Evid Based Complement Alternat MedHome page
E.-N. Lee, Y.-H. Kim, W. T. Chung, and M. S. Lee
Tai Chi for Disease Activity and Flexibility in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis--A Controlled Clinical Trial
Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., July 15, 2008; (2008) nem048v3.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Evid Based Complement Alternat MedHome page
K. E. Innes and H. K. Vincent
The Influence of Yoga-Based Programs on Risk Profiles in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review
Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., December 1, 2007; 4(4): 469 - 486.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Age AgeingHome page
J. Woo, A. Hong, E. Lau, and H. Lynn
A randomised controlled trial of Tai Chi and resistance exercise on bone health, muscle strength and balance in community-living elderly people
Age Ageing, May 1, 2007; 36(3): 262 - 268.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Integr Cancer TherHome page
P. Mansky, T. Sannes, D. Wallerstedt, A. Ge, M. Ryan, L. L. Johnson, M. Chesney, and L. Gerber
Tai chi chuan: mind-body practice or exercise intervention? Studying the benefit for cancer survivors.
Integr Cancer Ther, September 1, 2006; 5(3): 192 - 201.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J Am Board Fam MedHome page
K. E. Innes, C. Bourguignon, and A. G. Taylor
Risk Indices Associated with the Insulin Resistance Syndrome, Cardiovascular Disease, and Possible Protection with Yoga: A Systematic Review
J Am Board Fam Med, November 1, 2005; 18(6): 491 - 519.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Evid. Based Nurs.Home page
23 Apr 2004 to 23 Jul 2004
Evid. Based Nurs., October 1, 2004; 7(4): e4 - e4.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Evid. Based Med.Home page
Other articles noted
Evid. Based Med., September 1, 2004; 9(5): e5 - e5.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.