Tai Chi Beyond Balance and Fall Prevention: Health Benefits and Its Potential Role in Combatting Social Isolation in the Aging Population

Purpose of Review Tai Chi (TC) is expanding as a holistic intervention. The purpose of this paper is to provide a historical perspective on TC and how its original preventative tenants can be applied today. TC can go far beyond its accepted use for balance and falls prevention and has benefits for a wide variety of physical, mental, and social health conditions common with aging. Recent Findings Using current (last 5 years) evidence from PubMed (meta-analyses and systematic reviews), the merits of TC as an integrative intervention and preventative tool are analyzed by key causes of mortality and morbidity found in older adults. Summary TC is a readily adaptable exercise accessible to a wide variety of ages and skill levels. Traditional free-standing TC can be modified to seated, standing with side support, and or walker support versions. TC can be used in individual or group community-based settings to promote wellness.