Tai chi and bone density: research overview

Not medical advice. This page lists research about tai chi and bone density. It does not say whether tai chi works for any person or condition. Talk to a qualified health professional before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have a medical condition.

Studies in PubMed

29 (tagged with “Bone Density” as a major topic)

Years

1996–2026

Registered trials

0 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Types of studies

Each study is counted once, under its strongest type in this order: meta-analysis, systematic review, randomized controlled trial, clinical trial, review, observational study.

Studies, newest first

1. Comparative efficacy of different traditional Chinese exercises on bone mineral density in older adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. — Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA, 2026 · DOISystematic Review
2. The effect of leisure-time physical activities on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: Systematic review and meta-analysis. — Archives of gerontology and geriatrics, 2026 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
3. Effect of traditional Chinese fitness exercises on bone mineral density of middle-aged and elderly people-A systematic review and network meta-analysis. — Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 2025 · DOISystematic Review
4. Effect of Tai Chi exercise on bone health and fall prevention in postmenopausal women: a meta-analysis. — Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2024 · DOIMeta-Analysis
5. Effect of traditional Chinese fitness exercises on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. — Frontiers in endocrinology, 2024 · DOISystematic Review
6. Effects of mind-body exercise on perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — Menopause (New York, N.Y.), 2024 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
7. The Effects of Tai Chi Rouli Ball Exercise on Bone Mineral Content and Bone Metabolism Indicators in Perimenopausal Women. — Journal of clinical densitometry : the official journal of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry, 2024 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
8. The effect of different traditional Chinese exercises on bone mineral density in menopausal women: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. — Frontiers in public health, 2024 · DOISystematic Review
9. Efficacy and safety of tai chi exercise on bone health: An umbrella review. — Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA, 2023 · DOISystematic Review
10. Effects of Tai Chi and brisk walking on the bone mineral density of perimenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial. — Frontiers in public health, 2022 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
11. Effect of Tai Chi exercise with the same frequency and different exercise duration on the bone mineral density of older women. — The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 2020 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
12. Impact of exercise on bone mineral density, fall prevention, and vertebral fragility fractures in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. — Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia, 2020 · DOI
13. Tai Chi on bone mineral density of postmenopausal osteoporosis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. — Medicine, 2020 · DOI
14. The Effectiveness of Physical Exercise on Bone Density in Osteoporotic Patients. — BioMed research international, 2018 · DOIReview
15. Effect of Tai Chi on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials. — Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA, 2017 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
16. The Effect of Taichi Practice on Attenuating Bone Mineral Density Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. — International journal of environmental research and public health, 2017 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
17. Effects of tai chi exercise on bone health in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA, 2016 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
18. The effect of physical exercise on bone density in middle-aged and older men: a systematic review. — Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA, 2013 · DOISystematic Review
19. Impact of Tai Chi exercise on multiple fracture-related risk factors in post-menopausal osteopenic women: a pilot pragmatic, randomized trial. — BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2012 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
20. Biochemical markers of bone turnover as predictors of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in men and women: 10-year follow-up of the Taiji cohort. — Modern rheumatology, 2011 · DOI
21. Changes in serum levels of biochemical markers of bone turnover during 10 years among Japanese men and women: associated factors and birth-cohort effect. The Taiji Study. — Journal of bone and mineral metabolism, 2011 · DOI
22. Opposing systematic reviews: the effects of two quality rating instruments on evidence regarding t'ai chi and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2011 · DOI
23. Tai Chi Chuan exercises in enhancing bone mineral density in active seniors. — Clinics in sports medicine, 2008 · DOIReview
24. A randomised controlled trial of Tai Chi and resistance exercise on bone health, muscle strength and balance in community-living elderly people. — Age and ageing, 2007Randomized Controlled Trial
25. The effects of Tai Chi on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a systematic review. — Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 2007Systematic Review
26. Beneficial effects of regular Tai Chi exercise on musculoskeletal system. — Journal of bone and mineral metabolism, 2005
27. A randomized, prospective study of the effects of Tai Chi Chun exercise on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. — Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 2004Clinical TrialRandomized Controlled Trial
28. Determinants of bone loss in a rural Japanese community: the Taiji Study. — Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA, 1998
29. [A population survey on bone mineral density in a fishing village in Wakayama Prefecture (Part 2); The analysis of the risk factors affecting the bone mineral density]. — Nihon eiseigaku zasshi. Japanese journal of hygiene, 1996

Government health information

The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health summarizes the evidence on tai chi.

Study list: PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), citation data only. Trials: ClinicalTrials.gov. Retrieved 2026-10-22.

Data: PubMed (NLM citation data, free to use (abstracts not reproduced)); ClinicalTrials.gov (Public domain (U.S. Government work)); NCCIH (Public domain (U.S. Government work)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.