Tai chi and exercise tolerance: research overview

Not medical advice. This page lists research about tai chi and exercise tolerance. 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

17 (tagged with “Exercise Tolerance” as a major topic)

Years

2004–2026

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. Mind-body exercise for improving balance, aerobic capacity, walking ability, muscle strength, and mental health in patients with type 2 diabetes: a network meta-analysis. — Frontiers in endocrinology, 2026 · DOISystematic Review
2. Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) position statement on exercise and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. — Journal of science and medicine in sport, 2021 · DOIReview
3. The Effects of Tai Chi on Lung Function, Exercise Capacity and Health Related Quality of Life for Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Pilot Study. — Heart, lung & circulation, 2019 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
4. Traditional Chinese medicine training for cardiac rehabilitation: a randomized comparison with aerobic and resistance training. — Coronary artery disease, 2019 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
5. Dose-Response Effects of Tai Chi and Physical Therapy Exercise Interventions in Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis. — PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation, 2018 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
6. Effects of Tai Chi-based cardiac rehabilitation on aerobic endurance, psychosocial well-being, and cardiovascular risk reduction among patients with coronary heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. — European journal of cardiovascular nursing, 2018 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
7. Tai Chi Chuan in postsurgical non-small cell lung cancer patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. — Trials, 2018 · DOI
8. Rehabilitation practice patterns for patients with heart failure: the Asian perspective. — Heart failure clinics, 2015 · DOIReview
9. Effects of Tai Chi on exercise capacity and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2014 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
10. Effects of Tai Chi training on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure: a meta-analysis. — European journal of heart failure, 2013 · DOIMeta-Analysis
11. Tai chi exercise in patients with chronic heart failure: a randomized clinical trial. — Archives of internal medicine, 2011 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
12. Yin and yang of tai chi exercise. — Archives of internal medicine, 2011 · DOI
13. [Heart and tai chi; Viagra and mountaineering]. — Revue medicale suisse, 2011
14. Tai chi exercise for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot study. — Respiratory care, 2010Randomized Controlled Trial
15. Is tai chi beneficial for improving aerobic capacity? A systematic review. — British journal of sports medicine, 2009 · DOISystematic Review
16. Effectiveness of Tai Chi exercise in improving aerobic capacity: a meta-analysis. — The Journal of cardiovascular nursing, 2004Meta-Analysis
17. [The effect of Tai-Chi-Qui-Gong exercises on patients' pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life after lobectomy]. — Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing, 2004Clinical Trial

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.