Tai Chi for improving balance and reducing falls: An overview of 14 systematic reviews

Zhong, Dongling; Xiao, Qiwei; Xiao, Xili; Li, Yuxi; Ye, Jing; Xia, Lina; Zhang, Chi; Li, Juan; Zheng, Hui; Jin, Rongjiang

doi:10.1016/j.rehab.2019.12.008

Cited by 65 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Recently, an overview of 14 systematic reviews was published on the effectiveness of Tai Chi for improving postural balance and preventing falls (Zhong et al, 2020). Ten systematic reviews were published in English and four in Chinese.…”

Section: The Evidence For Tai Chi For Preventing Falls Current Evidenmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite this glowing report on the effects of Tai Chi in terms of magnitude, consistency, and quality of the evidence, the overview authors were much more conservative. They found the Huang et al review to be of "critically low" methodological quality (Zhong et al, 2020). However, it ticked 12 out of 16 (75%) boxes on a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews (AMSTAR) 2 checklist.…”

Section: The Evidence For Tai Chi For Preventing Falls Current Evidenmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One study was conducted with older adults from care homes (Faber, Bosscher, Chin, & van Wieringen, 2006; this population will be discussed subsequently), and the study with the poorest results for Tai Chi was Robust review that separated the effectiveness of Tai Chi by length of follow-up. Zhong et al (2020) identified these methodological limitations of the review: Not reporting a preestablished protocol, the study designs for inclusion, list of excluded studies with justifications, for not reporting on the source of funding for the included trials, and for a partially comprehensive literature search strategy. Sherrington et al 2019Rate of falls and number of people falling at least once among communitydwelling older adults Tai Chi reduces the rate of falls (RR = 0.81, 95% CI [0.67, 0.99], seven trials, low-certainty evidence) and the number of people falling at least once (RR = 0.80, 95% CI [0.70, 0.91], eight trials, high-certainty evidence).…”

Section: The Evidence For Tai Chi For Preventing Falls Current Evidenmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tai Chi for the Prevention of Falls Among Older Adults: A Critical Analysis of the Evidence

Nyman¹

2021

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity

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Despite interest as to the benefits of Tai Chi, there remains a controversy over its effectiveness as an exercise intervention for preventing falls among older adults. This review synthesizes the evidence base with a focus on meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials with community-dwelling older adults. It provides a critical lens on the evidence and quality of the trials. High-quality evidence suggests that Tai Chi is an effective intervention for preventing falls in community settings; 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 for reducing 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 adults are adherent to class-based Tai Chi interventions. The practical opportunities and challenges for practitioners are discussed.

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Section: The Evidence For Tai Chi For Preventing Falls Current Evidenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Evidence For Tai Chi For Preventing Falls Current Evidenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Evidence For Tai Chi For Preventing Falls Current Evidenmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Tai Chi for the Prevention of Falls Among Older Adults: A Critical Analysis of the Evidence

Nyman¹

2021

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity

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“…Other studies have examined the effect of TC on balance. For example, a recent review showed that TC can prevent falls and improve balance in older people and in people with Parkinson’s disease [ 30 ]. However, no definitive conclusions could be drawn from this systematic review on the effect of Tai Chi on stroke, osteoarthritis and heart failure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Tai Chi Combined with Mental Imagery on Cutaneous Microcirculatory Function and Blood Pressure in a Diabetic and Elderly Population

Alsubiheen

Petrofsky

et al. 2020

Healthcare

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Tai Chi (TC) training combined with mental imagery (MI) on blood pressure and cutaneous microcirculatory function in individuals with diabetes and age-matched healthy subjects. All subjects participated in a one-hour Yang style TC exercise with MI twice per week for 8 weeks. An activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) measurement, a single-leg stance (SLS), a functional reach test (FRT), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and skin blood flow were assessed. All functional outcomes were significantly improved in both groups, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were lower in both groups after the TC training (p < 0.05), but there was no significant group effect. Skin blood flow decreased in the age-matched elderly group when heat and occlusion were applied (p < 0.05), but no difference was found in the diabetes group. Combining TC with MI showed an improvement in functional outcomes and blood pressure but cutaneous microcirculatory function did not improve. Combining TC intervention with MI theory showed an improvement in functional outcomes and blood pressure, which showed cardiovascular benefits not only in diabetes but in age-matched healthy subjects. However, cutaneous microcirculatory function was increased only in age-matched healthy subjects.

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“…These have been combined with signaling strategies, which provide external signals to facilitate the initiation and/or continuation of movement, so patients are instructed to pay attention to signals and to step on the line or markers, or to go to the rhythm of an auditory or somatosensory signal (20,35). Some examples include visual cues (lines or markers on the floor and on the treadmill), rhythmic auditory cues, metronome rhythms, or music at a preset frequency, somatosensory cues-tactile sensation given to a part of the body as in Tai Chi (a repetitive bodyweight martial art that shifts from one foot to the other, taking a step and turning in different directions) (33,36,37).…”

Section: "Pasodoble" As a Form Of Therapeutic Exercise For Pd And Promentioning

confidence: 99%

PasoDoble, a Proposed Dance/Music for People With Parkinson's Disease and Their Caregivers

Castillo-Mariqueo

2020

Front. Neurol.

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Managing the heterogeneity of Parkinson's disease symptoms and its progressive nature demands strategies targeting the hallmark disrupted neurotransmission but also the comorbid derangements and bolstering neuroprotection and regeneration. Strong efforts are done to find disease-modifying strategies, since slowing disease progression is not enough to hamper its burden and some motor symptoms are resistant to dopamine-replacement therapy. The inclusion of non-pharmacological strategies can provide such a multitarget umbrella approach. The silent long-term biological process that precedes the clinical onset of disease is a challenge but also an opportunity to reinforce healthy lifestyle known to exert preventive/therapeutic effects. These non-pharmacological strategies are foreseen as able to reduce the prevalence and the global impact of long-term diseases demanding strong management of patient-caregiver quality of life. In this regard, European guidelines for Parkinson's disease recommend physical-related activities such as aerobic exercise and dancing known to improve functional mobility and balance in patients. Here, we propose “PasoDoble,” a novel dance/music patient-caregiver intervention with additional preventive value. The rationale is founded on evidence-based therapeutic benefits of dance/music therapy and the singular features of this widely extended Hispanic dance/music targeting motor symptoms, mood/cognition, and socialization: (i) As a dance, an easy and simple double-step pattern (back-and-forward and lateral movements) that evolves from a spontaneous individual dance to a partnered dancing, performed in social groups and involving dancing-figures of increasing complexity; (ii) “PasoDoble,” as a music that can be sung, has musical rhythmicity with high groove and familiarity that will help to synchronize the steps to the rhythm of music; (iii) Widely extended (Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and USA) and easy-to-learn for others. As a regular dancing “PasoDoble” can improve and preserve function, mood and socialization, as an intervention the method is structured to improve gait and balance; facilitate movement, reaching and grasping; muscle power and joint mobility; reduce of risk of falls, and increase of aerobic capacity. Finally, this easy-to-implement into patient care and free-living environments (elderly social centers, home care) rehabilitation programs can promote positive emotions and self-esteem, with added general improvement of social attachment and recognition, thus improving the quality of life of patient-caregiver.

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Tai Chi for improving balance and reducing falls: An overview of 14 systematic reviews

Cited by 65 publications

References 42 publications

Tai Chi for the Prevention of Falls Among Older Adults: A Critical Analysis of the Evidence

Tai Chi for the Prevention of Falls Among Older Adults: A Critical Analysis of the Evidence

Effect of Tai Chi Combined with Mental Imagery on Cutaneous Microcirculatory Function and Blood Pressure in a Diabetic and Elderly Population

PasoDoble, a Proposed Dance/Music for People With Parkinson's Disease and Their Caregivers

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