Tai chi and gait: research overview

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

39 (tagged with “Gait” 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. Effects of a 12-week Tai Chi program on postural stability and gait biomechanics in prefrail older adults: a randomized controlled study. — Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2026 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
2. Detrended Fluctuation Analysis of Gait Cycles: A Study of Neuromuscular and Ground Force Dynamics. — Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
3. Impact of a functional gait training program as a complementary strategy to improve physical function in older adults: a randomized clinical trial. — BMC geriatrics, 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
4. Tai Chi improves balance, mobility and gait function of the lower limbs in patients with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — European journal of medical research, 2025 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
5. The effects of Tai Chi on clinical outcomes and gait biomechanics in knee osteoarthritis patients: a pilot randomized controlled trial. — Scientific reports, 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
6. Physical activity components associated with gait parameters in community-dwelling older adults. — Journal of bodywork and movement therapies, 2024 · DOI
7. Effects of long-term Tai-Chi Chuan practice on whole-body balance control during obstacle-crossing in the elderly. — Scientific reports, 2022 · DOI
8. A systematic review of center of pressure measures to quantify gait changes in older adults. — Experimental gerontology, 2021 · DOISystematic Review
9. Tai Chi training's effect on lower extremity muscle co-contraction during single- and dual-task gait: Cross-sectional and randomized trial studies. — PloS one, 2021 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
10. Effects of Tai Chi versus Taekkyon on balance, lower-extremity strength, and gait ability in community-dwelling older women: A single-blinded randomized clinical trial. — Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation, 2020 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
11. Effects of Tai Chi on balance and gait in stroke survivors: A systematic meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. — Journal of rehabilitation medicine, 2018 · DOIMeta-Analysis
12. Can Tai Chi training impact fractal stride time dynamics, an index of gait health, in older adults? Cross-sectional and randomized trial studies. — PloS one, 2017 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
13. Tai chi for health benefits in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review. — PloS one, 2017 · DOISystematic Review
14. Changes in dual-task performance after 5 months of karate and fitness training for older adults to enhance fall prevention. — Aging clinical and experimental research, 2016Randomized Controlled Trial
15. Does T'ai Chi Gait Reduce External Knee Adduction Moment? — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2016
16. Taoist Tai Chi® and Memory Intervention for Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment. — Journal of aging and physical activity, 2016 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
17. Effect of Traditional Chinese Exercise on Gait and Balance for Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. — PloS one, 2015 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
18. The Effect of Tai Chi Chuan on Obstacle Crossing Strategy in Older Adults. — Research in sports medicine (Print), 2015 · DOI
19. A randomized trial to measure the impact of a community-based cognitive training intervention on balance and gait in cognitively intact Black older adults. — Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education, 2014 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
20. Tai Chi for improvement of motor function, balance and gait in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — PloS one, 2014 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
21. Tai chi intervention improves dynamic postural control during gait initiation in older adults: a pilot study. — Journal of applied biomechanics, 2014 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
22. The effect of Tai Chi exercise on gait initiation and gait performance in persons with Parkinson's disease. — Parkinsonism & related disorders, 2013 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
23. Biomechanical characteristics of stepping in older Tai Chi practitioners. — Gait & posture, 2012 · DOI
24. Gait modification strategies for altering medial knee joint load: a systematic review. — Arthritis care & research, 2011 · DOISystematic Review
25. Laboratory review: the role of gait analysis in seniors' mobility and fall prevention. — Gerontology, 2011 · DOI
26. Age-related differences in Tai Chi gait kinematics and leg muscle electromyography: a pilot study. — Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 2008 · DOI
27. Effects of Tai Chi on gait kinematics, physical function, and pain in elderly with knee osteoarthritis--a pilot study. — The American journal of Chinese medicine, 2008Clinical Trial
28. Joint kinetics during Tai Chi gait and normal walking gait in young and elderly Tai Chi Chuan practitioners. — Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon), 2008 · DOI
29. Effect of Tai Chi on gait and obstacle crossing behaviors in middle-aged adults. — Gait & posture, 2007
30. Muscle activation profiles about the knee during Tai-Chi stepping movement compared to the normal gait step. — Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology, 2007
31. Community-based tai chi and its effect on injurious falls, balance, gait, and fear of falling in older people. — Physical therapy, 2006
32. The duration and plantar pressure distribution during one-leg stance in Tai Chi exercise. — Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon), 2006Clinical Trial
33. Ground contact characteristics of Tai Chi gait. — Gait & posture, 2005
34. Tai Chi and vestibular rehabilitation improve vestibulopathic gait via different neuromuscular mechanisms: preliminary report. — BMC neurology, 2005Randomized Controlled Trial
35. [Gait, balance and falls--function assessment, diagnosis and prevention]. — Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946), 2005
36. Spatial, temporal and muscle action patterns of Tai Chi gait. — Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology, 2004Clinical Trial
37. Tai Chi and vestibular rehabilitation effects on gaze and whole-body stability. — Journal of vestibular research : equilibrium & orientation, 2004Clinical TrialRandomized Controlled Trial
38. The influence of Tai Chi training on the center of pressure trajectory during gait initiation in older adults. — Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 2004Clinical TrialRandomized Controlled Trial
39. [Gait analysis and tailored exercise prescription in older adults]. — Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie, 2004

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.