Table 1. Characteristics of the included studies.
| Author, year | Study design | Place of study | No.of participants (T/C) | Age (year) | Intervention | Frequency and Duration of Tai Chi exercise | Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tai Chi | Control | Tai Chi | Control | ||||||
| Nguyen et al. 2012 (48) | RCT | Vinh, Vietnam | 96(48/48) | 69.23±5.3 | 68.73 ±4.95 | Tai Chi | Non-intervention | 60 minutes per time and twice per week for 6 months | HR,SBP,DBP |
| Lu et al.2012(49) | RCT | Taiwan, China | 50(25/25) | 50–67 | 47–59 | Yang’s Tai Chi Chung | Non-intervention | 40 minutes per time and 7 times per week for 3 months | FVC,FEV1,SBP,DBP |
| Tu HL 2005 (50) | NRCT | Hubei, China | 32(16/16) | 61.64±4.21 | 63.25±6.05 | Taijiquan | Non-intervention | 12 minutes per time and 3 times per week for 10 weeks | SV,CO,VPE,EWK,HOV,SBP,DBP |
| Xu and Wen 1997 (51) | NRCT | Sichuan, China | 34(18/16) | 66.7±7.4 | 64.6±3.9 | Taijiquan | Non-intervention | for 10.5±8.7 years. | HR.SBP,DBP,MMV,FVC |
| Liu and Jin 2010(52) | NRCT | Jiangsu, China | 20(10/10) | 61.2±3.0 | 62.5±2.4 | Taijiquan | Non-intervention | 60 minutes per time and 4 times per week for 8 weeks. | HR.SBP,DBP,MMV,FVC,FEV1 |
| Yang and Fu 2010 (53) | NRCT | Gansu, China | 60(30/30) | 50–70 | 50–70 | Taijiquan | Non-intervention | 35 minutes per time and more than 4 times per week for 1 year. | SBP,DBP,HR,FVC, Step test index |
| Lan et al. 1998 (54) | NRCT | Taiwan, China | 39(21/18) | 60.05±4.48 | 66±3.85 | Yang’s Tai Chi Chung | Non-intervention | 1 hour and 4.6 ± 1.3 times per week for 11.2 ± 1.4 months. | HR,VO2peak;O2 pulse, MMV |
| Chang et al.2013 (55) | NRCT | Taiwan, China | 133(64/69) | 56.45±8.51 | 62.26±12.91 | Tai Chi Chung | Non-intervention | 60 minutes per time and three times per week at a park for 12 weeks. | SBP,DBP |
| Thornton et al. 2004(56) | NRCT | UK | 40(20/20) | 47.2±4.07 | 48.4±4.33 | Yang’s Tai Chi | Non-intervention | three times per week for 12 weeks. | SBP,DBP |
| Lu et al.2003 (57) | NRCT | Taiwan, China | 40(20/20) | 52.8±7.5 | 56.3±8.5 | Yang’s Tai Chi Chuan | Non-intervention | 40 minutes per time and 3 times per week for an average of 1.9±1.0 years。 | SBP,DBP |
| Rong et al. 2009 (58) | CS | Beijing, China | 421(212/209) | Over 45 | Over 45 | Taijiquan | Non-intervention | More than 30 minutes per time and more than 4 times per week for more than 5 years. | FVC, Step test index |
| Yan Y 2013 (59) | CS | Liaoning, China | 98(48/50) | over 45 | over 45 | Taijiquan | Non-intervention | More than 30 minutes per time and more than 3 times per week for 1year. | FVC, Step test index |
| Li XH 2008(60) | CS | Liaoning, China | 60(30/30) | 65.3±4.8 | 66.1±4.6 | Taijiquan | Non-intervention | From 40 to 60 minutes per time and more than 4 times per week for 1 years. | FVC,HR,SV,CO |
| Peng CZ 2006 (61) | CS | Zhejiang, China | 380(180/200) | 61.94±3.64 | 62.07±3.16 | Taijiquan | Non-intervention | More than 30 minutes per time and 3 times per week for 5 years | FVC,HR,SV,CO,MMV |
| Liang YW 2001(62) | CS | Guangdong, China | 33(15/18) | 66.7±7.4 | 64.6 ± 3.9 | Taijiquan | Non-intervention | No description | FVC,HR,SV,CO,MMV,SBP,DBP |
| Lai et al.1995 (63) | CS | Taiwan, China | 84(45/39) | 62.6±6.1 | 63.1±4.75 | Yang’s Tai Chi Chuan | Non-intervention | 54 minutes per time and 5 times per week for 2 years. | HR,VO2peak O2 pulse, MMV |
| Lan et al. 2004 (64) | CS | Taiwan, China | 24(12/12) | 58.8±7.9 | 59.9±5.2 | Yang’s Tai Chi Chuan | Non-intervention | 54 minutes per time and 3 times per week for 4.7±3.3 years. | HR,VO2peak O2 pulse, MMV |
| Lei et al.2001 (65) | SCT | Fujian, China | 39 | 6I.87±4.4 | Taijiquan. | 30 minutes per time and 7 to 14 times per week for 1 year. | SV,CO,VPE,EWK,HOV,SBP,DBP | ||
| Han YZ 2010 (66) | SCT | Jilin, China | 50 | 61.1±6.14 | Taijiquan | No less than 1 hour per time and mean 4 times per week for 6 months | HR,SBP,DBP,FVC | ||
| Wang GJ 2010 (67) | SCT | Jilin, China | 50 | 63.5±2.8 | Taijiquan | No description | SBP,DBP,HR,FVC,VO2peak,Step test index | ||
Abbreviations: RCT, randomized controlled trial; NRCT, non-randomized controlled trial; CS, Cohort study; SCT, Self-control trail; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; HR, heart rate; SV, stroke volume; CO, cardiac output; HOV, myocardial oxygen consumption; EWK, left heart energy effective utilization; VPE, left ventricular effective pump power; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV1, forced vital capacity in the first second; MMV maximal minute ventilation; VO2peak, peak oxygen uptake; O2 pulse, oxygen pulse.