Tai chi and postural balance: research overview

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

219 (tagged with “Postural Balance” as a major topic)

Years

1993–2026

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 Tai Chi versus balance training on functional performance and postural control during sit and stand transitions in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized trial. — Journal of science and medicine in sport, 2026 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
2. Effectiveness of aquatic Tai Chi on balance indicators: a systematic review. — Frontiers in public health, 2026 · DOISystematic Review
3. Effectiveness of traditional mind-body exercises on fall risk test scores and balance in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. — Medicine, 2026 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
4. 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
5. Exercise modalities for overall and domain-specific balance performance in older adults: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. — Ageing research reviews, 2026 · DOISystematic Review
6. Meta-Analysis on the effect of Tai Chi Chuan on Human Biomechanics and Health from (2021-2025). — Saudi medical journal, 2026 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
7. 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
8. Task-specific cortical modulation induced by Tai Chi during postural control in older adults with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: An fNIRS study. — Brain research, 2026 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
9. The Effects of 8-week Dance and Tai Chi Randomized Controlled Trial on Balance, Wellbeing and Moods Among Healthy Adults Aged 18 to 60: A Study Protocol. — Journal of dance medicine & science : official publication of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, 2026 · DOI
10. The Impact of Mind-Body Interventions on Dynamic Postural Control in Chronic Ankle Instability Patients: A Critically Appraised Topic. — Journal of sport rehabilitation, 2026 · DOIReview
11. The effects of Tai Chi Chuan combined with unstable resistance training on knee muscle strength and dynamic balance in female college students: a randomized controlled study protocol. — Frontiers in public health, 2026 · DOI
12. The impact of balance exercise on brain age and brain morphometry: insights from MRI analysis. — Aging clinical and experimental research, 2026 · DOI
13. Comparison Between Tai Chi and Balance Training on Spatiotemporal Parameters and Dual-Task Costs During Stair Negotiation in Participants With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. — Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy, 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
14. Cortical adaptations in Tai Chi practitioners during sensory conflict: an EEG-based effective connectivity analysis of postural control. — Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2025 · DOI
15. Effect of yoga on balance, falls, and bone metabolism: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials in healthy individuals. — Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA, 2025 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
16. Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Older Adults' Balance: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. — Journal of aging and physical activity, 2025 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
17. Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on balance function in adults 60 years or older with type 2 diabetes and mild cognitive impairment in China: A secondary analysis of a multi-center randomized clinical trial. — Journal of diabetes investigation, 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
18. Effects of Tai Chi combined with Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization on postural control and balance in post-stroke patients with sarcopenia: protocol for a randomised single-blind controlled trial. — BMJ open, 2025 · DOI
19. Effects of Tai Chi on balance and fall prevention in healthy older adults: a randomized controlled meta-analysis. — Frontiers in public health, 2025 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
20. Effects of Tai Chi on executive function, single-leg dynamic balance, and brain functional connectivity in older adults. — Scientific reports, 2025 · DOI
21. Effects of Tai Chi training on functionality, dynamic balance, kinesiophobia, and quality of life in athletes with functional ankle instability. — Research in sports medicine (Print), 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
22. Effects of Taiji Stick exercise on strength, balance, and activities of daily living in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. — Frontiers in public health, 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
23. Efficacy of Tai Chi and Roliball Exercise on Balance, Mobility, and Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. — Clinical interventions in aging, 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
24. Impact of Tai Ji Yunshou with Visual Feedback on Balance and Mobility in Stroke Patients. — Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research, 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
25. Online control ability affects precision fitting performances of long-term Tai Chi practitioners in older adults. — Gait & posture, 2025 · DOI
26. Remote monitoring of Tai Chi balance training interventions in older adults using wearable sensors and machine learning. — Scientific reports, 2025 · DOI
27. Seated Tai Chi Improves Dynamic Finger-Pointing Task and Sitting Balance Control in Subjects with Parkinson's Disease: A Prospective Comparative Observational Study. — Complementary medicine research, 2025 · DOI
28. 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
29. The effectiveness of exercise interventions on muscle strength and balance function in pre-frail older adults: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. — Frontiers in public health, 2025 · DOISystematic Review
30. A 12-week Taijiquan practice improves balance control and functional fitness in fall-prone postmenopausal women. — Frontiers in public health, 2024 · DOI
31. A Systematic Review of the Effect of Physical Rehabilitation on Balance in People with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Who are at Risk of Falling. — Clinical interventions in aging, 2024 · DOISystematic Review
32. Comparing the effectiveness of five traditional Chinese exercises in improving balance function in older adults: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. — PeerJ, 2024 · DOISystematic Review
33. Efficacy of Mindfulness Exercises for Primary Osteoporosis Pain and Balance: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. — Orthopedic nursing, 2024 · DOISystematic Review
34. Prepandemic Feasibility of Tele-Exercise as an Alternative Delivery Mode for an Evidence-Based, Tai Ji Quan Fall-Prevention Intervention for Older Adults. — Journal of aging and physical activity, 2024 · DOI
35. Tai Chi for balance and postural control in people with peripheral neuropathy: A scoping review. — Complementary therapies in medicine, 2024 · DOI
36. Tai chi improves balance performance in healthy older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — Frontiers in public health, 2024 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
37. The influence of different intensity of Tan Tui exercises on the posture control of students in the Tai Chi Elective Course: protocol for a randomized controlled trial. — Trials, 2024 · DOI
38. Therapeutic Interventions to Improve Static Balance in Type 2 DiabetesMellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. — Current diabetes reviews, 2024 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
39. 12-week concurrent brisk walking and Taijiquan (Tai Chi) improve balance, flexibility, and muscular strength of Chinese older women. — PloS one, 2023 · DOI
40. The comparison between effects of Taichi and conventional exercise on functional mobility and balance in healthy older adults: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. — Frontiers in public health, 2023 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review

179 more studies on PubMed

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.