Tai Chi reduces falls in older people and people who are at higher risk of falling

Lomas-Vega R, Obrero-Gaitan E, Molina-Ortega FJ, et al. Tai Chi for Risk of Falls. A Meta-analysis. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2017;65:2037-43.

Review question

In older people and people who are at higher risk of falling, does Tai Chi reduce the risk of falling?

Background

Falls can cause serious injuries and are a main cause of traumatic death in older people. People often fall because they have poor balance, have difficulty walking, or take multiple medications. Tai Chi focuses on flexibility and body coordination and may help people reduce the risk factors for falls.

How the review was done

The researchers did a systematic review, searching for studies that were published up to May 2016.

They found 10 randomized controlled trials, including 2,673 people (age 56 to 98 years).

The key features of the studies were:

• people had different risks of falling;
• people did Tai Chi for 1 hour, 1 to 3 times each week, for 12 to 26 weeks;
• Tai Chi was compared with usual care, yoga, physical therapy, walking, low-intensity exercises, balance training, and resistance exercise; and
• outcomes were measured from immediately after the 12- to 26-week session up to 1½ years later.

What the researchers found

Compared with not doing Tai Chi, Tai Chi:

• reduced falls in the short-term (less than 1 year) and long-term (1 year and longer);
• reduced falls causing injury in the short-term and long-term; and
• did not reduce the time until a person’s first fall.

Conclusion

In older people and people who are at higher risk of falling, Tai Chi reduces falls.

Tai Chi vs control in older people and people who are at risk of falling