The effects of Tai Chi Chuan on fall prevention in the elderly: Systematic Review

Tai Chi Chuan and fall prevention in the elderly

Abstract

Background: Aging leads to a reduction in strength, changes in gait, and compromised balance, increasing the risk of falls and constituting a serious public health problem. Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) has proven effective in preventing these events in the elderly. Objective: Analyze the effectiveness of adapted forms of TCC as a method for fall prevention in the elderly. Methods: This is a systematic review of the literature. The databases PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, and Google Scholar were consulted. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published in English between January 1, 2015, and February 18, 2025, involving elderly individuals aged ≥60 who underwent adapted TCC interventions, compared to active or inactive controls, were included. Studies outside the topic, with insufficient methodological description, that were not RCTs, that recruited elderly individuals with prior experience in TCC, or with cognitive, neurological, or functional impairments, as well as special populations, were excluded. The studies were selected by two independent reviewers. The characteristics of the studies eligible to be included in this review were extracted and tabulated, likewise by two independent reviewers. The synthesis of the results was conducted thru narrative synthesis. The methodological characteristics and the effects of the interventions were analyzed and compared qualitatively. Results: Seven studies were included, totaling 1,017 elderly individuals. All the studies used adapted forms of TCC and demonstrated positive effects on factors related to fall risk. Only one RCT directly assessed the incidence of falls, recording a significant reduction after the TCC intervention. Conclusion: Adapted forms of TCC are effective in preventing falls in the elderly. However, overly simplified protocols or those with a frequency of more than four sessions per week reduce adherence and compromise the results. Future studies should adopt the incidence of falls as the primary outcome and rigorously monitor adherence and dropout.