Author, year

Study

design

Sample

(F/M)

Age, mean ± SD years

Study groups (n)

Frequency and duration

Outcomes measured and results

Cui et al., 2012

CSS

29 (29/0)

Healthy

66.8 ± 4.36 (T)

65.6 ± 3.92 (C)

T (15)

No training (14)

T group: Three 60-minute Taiji softball sessions for more than one year

C: no active sport participation

Primary outcome (handgrip strength test, p < 0.05)

Additional outcomes (reaction time for red and green lights, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively; right hand stability, p < 0.01)

Lam et al., 2011a, b

NRCT

66 (39/27)

Sedentary

Mean age between 65 and 75

T (32)

Routine activities (32)

Two 60-minute Taiji softball sessions per week for 10 weeks

Primary outcomes (flexibility using sit-and-reach test, p < 0.01; handgrip strength test, p < 0.05)

Secondary outcomes (2-minute step test, p < 0.01; time up and go, p < 0.01)

Additional outcomes (arm curls test for arm muscle strength, p < 0.01; AAPERD Soda Po test for hand eye coordination, p < .01; chair sand test for lower body strength, p < 0.01; back scratch test, p < 0.01; BMI, p < 0.05)

Li et al., 2010

RCT

64 (32/32)

Healthy college students

19.5 ± 2.6 (T)

19.5 ± 2.3 (C)

T (32)

C (32) no training

Six 120-minute sessions per week for 12 weeks

Primary outcomes (handgrip strength, p < 0.05; flexibility using sit-and-reach test, p < 0.05; and stock balance test, p < 0.05

Lai, 2010

NOT

17 (9/8)

Healthy older adults

Aged between 60 and 69

T (17)

Seven 60-to-90-minute taiji softball sessions for three and half months

Primary outcomes (flexibility using sit-and-reach test, p < 0.05; handgrip strength, p < 0.01; static balance, < 0.01)

Additional outcomes (BMI, p < 0.01; waist-and-hip ratio, p < 0.0; shoulder skinfold, p < 0.05 abdomen skinfold, p < 0.01, waist skinfold, p < 0.5; reaction time p < 0.05)

Qiu et al., 2014

RCT

150 (150/0)

Healthy college students

Aged between 18 and 25

T (50)

BaDuanJin (50)

C (50)

Five 50-minute Taiji softball sessions per week for 18 weeks

Primary outcomes (handgrip strength, p < 0.01; flexibility using sit-and-reach test, p < 0.5; stock balance test, p < 0.01)

Secondary outcomes (systolic and diastolic pressures, p > 0.05; resting heart rate, p < 0.05; step test, p < 0.01)

Additional outcomes (weight, p < 0.05; waist and abdomen circumferences, p < 0.05; arm and shoulder skinfolds, p < 0.01; abdomen skinfold, p < 0.01; broad long jump, p < 0.05)

Wang, 2007

NRCT

40 (40/0)

Postmenopausal women

60 ± 8 (T)

61 ± 5 (C)

T (20);

Walking (20)

Three 50-minute Taiji softball sessions per week for 24 weeks

Additional outcomes (bone mineral density on lumbar 2-4, p < 0.05]; bone mineral content on lumbar 2 and femoral neck, p < 0.001), and bone metabolism index (bone glaprolein [BGP] and serum alkaline phosphatase [ALP], p < 0.001)