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


Author: Jiaqi Lin1, Shuaiqi Ning1, Shaowei Lyu1, Hainan Gao1, Xinxin Shao1, Zili Tan1, Xiangyu Zhu2, Ying Chen3

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.

<sup>2</sup> School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China. 116491992@qq.com.

<sup>3</sup> Department of Encephalopathy, Beijing Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Conference/Journal: Aging Clin Exp Res
Date published: 2024 Mar 13
Other:
 Volume ID: 36   ,  Issue ID: 1   ,  Pages: 65   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1007/s40520-023-02674-7.   ,  Word Count: 241  
    Objectives:

Few studies comparing the effects of different types of Tai Chi exercises on preventing falls in older adults. We compared the effects for finding an optimal intervention.



Methods:

We searched 12 databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and so on, from their inception to January 13, 2023. Randomized controlled trials incorporating different types of Tai Chi for preventing falls in older adults were included. The outcome measures were the incidence of falls and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted using Stata 15.1 based on a frequentist framework.



Results:

Seventeen trials were eligible, including 3470 participants and four types of Tai Chi. They were 24-form simplified Tai Chi (24-form), Yang style Tai Chi (Yang style), Sun style Tai Chi (Sun style) and Tai Chi exercise program (TCEP). In paired meta-analysis, for incidence of falls, 24-form (Relative Risk (RR) = 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.40, 0.86]) was more efficient than the control group. For BBS outcome, 24-form (MD (mean difference) = 2.32, 95% CI [1.42, 3.22]) was better than the control group. In the NMA, the results of incidence of falls were as follows: 24-form > Yang style > Sun style > control > TCEP. The rank probability of BBS was as follows: 24-form > TCEP > Yang style > control.



Conclusion:

Among the four types of Tai Chi studied, the 24-form simplified Tai Chi has shown better efficacy than other types.



Keywords: Exercise therapy; Falls; Network meta-analysis; Older adults; Tai Chi.



PMID: 38472538 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-023-02674-7