OBJECTIVE To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of fall prevention and balance function in the elderly. Methods Databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and CNKI were electronically searched, and the relevant references of the included papers were also manually searched. Two reviewers independently screened the articles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted the data, and assessed the methodological quality. A meta-analysis was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 5.1 software. Results Six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 2796 participants were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that compared with a physiotherapy intervention, Tai Chi could significantly reduce the incidence rates of falls [relative risk (RR) = 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.73, 0.92)], while there were significant differences in the Timed Up and Go test, Functional Reach Test and Berger Balance Scale. Conclusions Tai Chi is effective in reducing the risk of falls and improving balance in the elderly. Language: en
