Does tai chi and qigong affect balance and falls in menopause? What 13 studies found

A meta-analysis of 16 trials in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis found traditional Chinese exercise improved bone mineral density, pain, balance, and quality of life versus conventional care alone.

Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,288 participants pooled · 2024PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed

A meta-analysis of 12 studies in 1,272 postmenopausal women found Tai Chi increased vertebral bone density and health status scores, with no significant effect on falls or balance.

No difference foundMeta-analysis · 1,272 participants pooled · 2024PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed

A review of 7 studies in adults over 50, including postmenopausal women, found combined tai chi and resistance training improved muscle strength, aerobic endurance, balance, and mobility after long term training.

Reported an improvementSystematic review · 703 participants pooled · 2020Midlife womenCited 17 timesPubMed

A meta-analysis of 15 RCTs with 1018 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis found traditional Chinese exercises such as Ba Duanjin improved lumbar spine bone density and reduced pain versus controls.

Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,018 participants pooled · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed

In 86 postmenopausal osteopenic women, nine months of Tai Chi training did not significantly change hip or spine bone density overall, but improved balance sway measures versus usual care.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 86 women · 39 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 81 timesPubMed

Postmenopausal women who practiced a modified Eight-Section Brocade exercise for 12 months, with or without calcium, had increased bone density, less back pain and better balance than controls.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 198 women · 52 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 36 timesPubMed

Older postmenopausal cancer survivors did tai ji quan, strength training, or stretching twice weekly for 6 months and researchers found no difference in fall incidence between groups.

No difference foundRandomised trial · 462 women · 26 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 21 timesPubMed

Postmenopausal women with low bone mass who did tai chi three times weekly for 24 weeks showed increased stride width and improved general health, vitality and bodily pain versus controls, but no balance changes.

No difference foundRandomised trial · 61 women · 24 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 38 timesPubMed

A review of four trials of tai chi in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis found a positive effect on balance but no clear support for benefits in muscle strength or quality of life.

Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2014PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed

A 6 month Tai Chi program in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis improved physical quality of life scores and some balance measures versus usual care, though between-group balance differences were not significant.

No difference foundRandomised trial · 98 women · 26 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed

62 postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of tai chi; dynapenic women showed improved handgrip strength, function and health perception, and both groups had lower blood pressure.

Reported an improvementControlled trial · 62 women · 12 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 20 timesPubMed

Fall-prone postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of Taijiquan and improved balance, flexibility, arm curl strength, and handgrip strength versus controls.

Reported an improvementControlled trial · 50 women · 12 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed

Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors with joint pain from aromatase inhibitors did group tai chi twice weekly for 8 weeks and reported improved anxiety, depression, fatigue and emotional wellbeing, with no significant change in pain or balance.

No difference foundBefore-and-after study · 12 women · 8 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed