The effects of Tai Chi on pain and other health indicators in people with osteoarthritis: An updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis
Pooled result · Pain, Tai Chi vs non-exercise comparatorsResult — go to the resultCohen's d −0.64 95% CI −0.96 to −0.34Authors' conclusion
Tai Chi benefits pain, mobility, self-reported function and stiffness, and has similar effects to other forms of exercise on these indicators (except mobility) in participants with OA.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with osteoarthritis (OA); randomised trials from 9 major English and Chinese databases (search completed December 2024)
- Participants
- 1,676 adults28 studies
- Comparison
- Tai Chi vs non-exercise comparators and vs other forms of exercise
- Outcome
- Pain
Methodological detailsdose-response meta-analysis, updated review, More than 70% of studies had good methodological quality; evidence quality for most outcomes moderate
- Dose-response meta-analysis
- Updated review
- More than 70% of studies had good methodological quality; evidence quality for most outcomes moderate
Pooled result
Pain, Tai Chi vs non-exercise comparators
Cohen's d
−0.64
95% CI −0.96 to −0.34
P < 0.01
Tai Chivs Non-exercise comparators
Cohen's d −0.64 (95% CI −0.96 to −0.34); P < 0.01
As reported in the abstract
Further pooled results
| Outcome | Cohen's d (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobility, Tai Chivs non-exercise comparatorsn=7 | −0.58 (−0.84 to −0.31) | P < 0.01 | |
| Self-reported physical function, Tai Chivs non-exercise comparatorsn=11 | −0.74 (−1.11 to −0.38) | P < 0.01 | |
| Stiffness, Tai Chivs non-exercise comparatorsn=10 | −0.73 (−1.19 to −0.27) | P < 0.01 | |
| −1.5−1−0.500.5Difference (linear scale) |
Dose-response vs controls
- Each unit increase in weekly frequency and in overall program duration associated with a small improvement in pain
Pain, self-reported function, stiffness: Tai Chi vs exercise comparators
- No significant difference between Tai Chi and other forms of exercise
Original publication
The effects of Tai Chi on pain and other health indicators in people with osteoarthritis: An updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. Published 4 June 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →