Seven RCTs were included in the review (n=1,146 participants). Trials met either 6 or 7 out of 9 quality criteria and were all rated "high quality". The main criteria missing related to blinding of patients or care providers, or lack of intention-to-treat analysis. Drop-out rate ranged from 4 to 60% across the trials; in all but one trial, drop-out rates were less than 30%.
Incidence of falling (six trials): Three trials demonstrated statistically significant reductions in the rate of falls in the Tai Chi groups. Two trials gave non significant results that were deemed "clinically relevant". One trial, with a drop-out rate of 60%, had results that were not statistically significant. The three trials demonstrating significant reductions in the incidence of falls in Tai Chi groups were those with the lowest percentage of participants with a recent history of falls.
Fear of falling (six trials): Five trials demonstrated statistically significant reductions in the fear of failling in the Tai Chi groups, whilst one trial did not. The trial that did not find a significant reduction in fear of falling had the lowest percentage of participants with a fear of falling at baseline (14%).