Table 1. Characteristics of Included Trials^a.

Source	Populationb	Activity (No. of participants)			Female, %/age, mean (SD), y		Intervention group			Allocation/blinding of assessors	End point assessment
		Intervention group	Control group	Total	Intervention group	Control group	Frequency, times per wk/class time, min	Duration of intervention	Adherence, mean, %
Alves et al,48 2013	Community dwelling; members of a dance project sponsored by the government; no further statement about socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity	Ballroom dance (25)	Control (25)	50	84/69 (7)	96/68 (8)	2/120	16 wk	90	Participants randomized/NR or unclear	Balance: BBS; mobility: TUG test
Bennett et al,49 2018	Community dwelling; recruited from the northwest Florida community via local senior centers; 91% White, 8.7% Black; most participants with grades 11-12 education	Line dancing (12)	Usual care/no exercise (11)	23	83/73 (8) (total, both groups combined)	91	2/60	8 wk	80	Participants randomized/no blinding of assessors	Balance: BBS
Cepeda et al,57 2015	Community dwelling; no further statement about socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity	Ballroom dance (19)	Control (15)	24	100/69 (7)	100/72 (7)	3/60	8 wk	91	Participants randomized/NR or unclear	Mobility: TUG test
Choi et al,37 2004	Institutionalized; no further statement about socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity	Tai chi with music (29)	Control (30)	59	79/77 (8)	70/79 (7)	3/35	12 wk	70	Facilities randomized (cluster randomization)/no blinding of assessors	Falls: risk of falling (RR); weekly monitoring of fall episodes during 12 wk of intervention; balance: OLS eyes open/eyes closed combined
Chyu et al,45 2010	Community dwelling; postmenopausal women; no further statement about socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity	Tai chi (26)	Control (28)	54	100/72 (6)	100/71 (6)	3/60	24 wk	94	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Falls: rate of falls (IRR); self-reported at baseline, 12 and 24 wk; mobility: TUG test; lower body strength: 5 times STS test
Cruz-Ferreira et al,58 2015	Community dwelling; women recruited from a local health center; no further statement about socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity	Creative dance (32)	Control (25)	57	100/71 (4)	100/73 (5)	3/50	24 wk	85	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Mobility: TUG test; lower body strength: 30-s STS test
Eyigor et al,38 2009	Community dwelling; recruited in outpatient clinics; in the intervention group 64.7% had primary school education, in the control group 38.5%; most participants were housewives	Turkish folk dance (19)	Control (18)	37	100/74 (8)	100/71 (6)	3/60	8 wk	NR	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Falls: risk of falling (RR); unpublished data, reported by author on request; balance: BBS; lower body strength: 5 times STS test
Frye et al,59 2007	Community dwelling; 94.4% White/non-Hispanic, 2.8% Black/non-Hispanic, 2.8% Asian/Pacific Islander; well-educated sample: 18.1% with postcollege degree, 20.8% with 4-y college degree, 26.4% with some college degree, 18.1% with high school diploma, 2.8% some high school	Tai chi (23)	Control (21)	44	64/69 (9) (total, both groups combined)		3/60	12 wk	91.4% Of participants attended at least 80% of classes	Participants randomized/PI, project coordinator, and instructors not blinded, unclear if assessors were blinded	Mobility: TUG test; lower body strength: 30-s STS test; upper body strength: HGS
Hopkins et al,53 1990	Community dwelling; no further statement about socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity	Low-impact aerobic dance (30)	Control (23)	53	100/65 (4)	100/66 (4)	3/50	12 wk	NR	Participants randomized/NR or unclear	Balance: OLS; mobility: TUG test; lower body strength: 30-s STS test
Huang et al,39 2010	Community dwelling; 35.5% in tai chi group and 68.1% in the control group had ≤6 y of education	Tai chi (31)	Control (47)	78	29/71 (0)	40/72 (1)	3/40	5 mo (21 wk)	NR	Villages randomized (cluster randomization)/NR or unclear	Falls: risk of falling (RR); assessed during follow-up, means of assessment NR; balance: FR; mobility: TUG test
Hui et al,60 2009	Community dwelling; no further statement about socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity	Low-impact aerobic dance (52)	Control (45)	97	96/68 (5)	98/69 (4)	Approximately 2 (total 23 sessions)/50-60	12 wk	91.3	Social centers randomized (cluster randomization)/assessors blinded	Mobility: TUG test; lower body strength: 10-s STS test (treated same way in meta-analysis as trials reporting 30-s STS test)
Janyacharoen et al,63 2013	Community dwelling; no further statement about socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity	Traditional Thai dance (20)	General aerobic exercises in daily life (18)	38	100/67 (6)	100/65 (4)	3/40	6 wk	NR	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Lower body strength: 5 times STS test
Li et al,40 2005	Community dwelling; recruited from the pool of patients enrolled in the Legacy Health System in Portland, Oregon; 90% in tai chi group and 91% in control group were White; 94% in tai chi group and 90% in control group had high school degree or higher; annual household income was <$35 000 for 64% in the tai chi group and for 70% in the control group	Tai chi (125)	Seated stretching exercises (131)	256	70/77 (5)	70/78 (5)	3/60	26 wk	Median adherence rate for both groups: 61 of approximately 72 sessions scheduled	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Falls: risk of falling (RR), fall rate (IRR); means of falls assessment NR; balance: BBS, OLS, FR, combined; mobility: TUG test
Li et al,51 2008	Community dwelling; participating in social and recreational activities outside their home on a minimum of 2 occasions per week; no further statement about socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity	Tai chi (22)	Discussion meetings (18)	40	50/65 (3)	50/66 (4)	4/60	16 wk	92	Participants randomized/NR or unclear	Balance: OLS
Logghe et al,52 2009	Community dwelling; identified through the patient registration files of participating GPs; GPs invited participants to participate; 71% in tai chi group and 65.5% in control group had high school education or more; 96.2% in the tai chi group and 91.3% in the control group were born in the Netherlands	Tai chi (138)	Control (131)	269	70/78 (5)	73/77 (5)	2/60	13 wk	47% Of participants attended at least 80% of classes	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Balance: BBS
McKinley et al,64 2008	Community dwelling; no further statement about socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity	Tango dance program (14)	Walking (11)	25	78/78 (8)	72/75 (8)	2/120	10 wk	>90 (Both groups)	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Lower body strength: 5 times STS test
Merom et al,46 2016	Residents of self-care retirement villages; 17% non-English speaking, 73% born in Australia; 36% with ≤10 y of education	Folk or ballroom dance (275)	Delayed intervention (247)	522	83/43% >80 y; all participants at least 60 y	86/35% >80 y; all participants at least 60 y	2/60	12 mo (52 wk/total of 80 lessons)	51	Retirement villages randomized (cluster randomization)/assessors were not blinded at follow-up assessments	Falls: rate of falls (IRR); daily self-report in diaries that were sent to study center on monthly basis; if a fall happened or the diary was not sent in, participants were called to assess details; strength: 5 times STS test
Merom et al,65 2016	Community dwelling; 45.0% in the dance group and 52.7% in the control group had primary/high school as highest education level, 21.7% in the dance group and 20.0% in the control group had TAFE apprenticeship and 33.3% in the dance group, and 27.3% in the control group had university degrees	Ballroom dance (40)	Walking program (39)	79	85/60-69 y: 50%; 70-74 y: 25%; ≥75 y: 25%	85/60-69 y: 62%; 70-74 y: 18%; ≥75 y: 21%	2/60	8 mo (34 wk; approximately 69 sessions)	66	Participants randomized/assessors only at baseline blinded, but not on follow-up assessments	Lower body strength: 5 times STS test
Noradechanunt et al,61 2017	Community dwelling; 76.9% in tai chi group and 92.3% in control group had high school or higher education	Tai chi (9)	Telephone counseling (10)	19	69/67 (8)	77/65 (7)	2/90	12 wk	85	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Mobility: TUG test; lower body strength: 30-s STS test
Pereira et al,53 2008	Community dwelling; women registered in the university’s physical activity program for elderly people; no further statement about socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity	Tai chi (38)	Control (39)	77	100/68 (5)	100/69 (7)	3/50	12 wk	NR	Participants randomized/NR or unclear	Balance: OLS
Serano-Guzmann et al,54 2016	Community dwelling; White postmenopausal women attending a primary care clinic and referred to the clinical laboratory of the physiotherapy department at the University of Granada, Spain	Flamenco and sevillanas (27)	Self-care treatment advice (25)	52	100/69 (4)	100/69 (3)	3/50	8 wk	100	Participant randomized/assessors blinded	Balance: OLS; mobility: TUG test
Sun et al,55 2015	Community dwelling; recruited via public announcement, 55.5% in the tai chi group and 72.8% in the control group had ≥12 y of education	Tai chi (72)	Social activities (66)	138	81/68 (6)	70/70 (6)	2/60	6 mo (26 wk)	NR	Participant randomized/NR or unclear	Balance: OLS; upper body strength: HGS (results were combined for right and left hand before entering the meta-analysis)
Taylor et al,62 2012	Community dwelling; recruited in Auckland, Dunedin, and Christchurch, New Zealand; 12 participants identified as Māori or Pacific Islander	Group 1: Tai chi (233); group 2: tai chi (220)	Group 1: low-level exercise (231); group 2: low-level exercise (231)	Group 1: 264; group 2: 251	Group 1: 69/75 (7); group 2: 76/74 (6)	Group 1: 76; 74 (6); group 2: 76/74 (6)	Group 1: 1/60; group 2: 2/60	Group 1: 20 wk; group 2: 20 wk	Group 1: 79; group 2: 72	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Mobility: TUG test (results were combined for groups 1 and 2 before entering the meta-analysis); lower body strength: 30-s STS test (results were combined for groups 1 and 2 before entering the meta-analysis)
Taylor-Piliae et al,56 2010	Community dwelling; recruited in Santa Clara County or San Mateo County in California; college educated, 85% White	Tai chi (37)	Attendance control/no exercise (56)	93	65/71 (6)	73/68 (6)	2/45	6 mo (26 wk)	77	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Balance: OLS, FR; lower body strength: 30-s STS test
Trombetti et al,41 2011	Community dwelling; 11% in early intervention and 19% in delayed intervention had primary school education, 66% in early intervention and 68% in delayed intervention had middle school education, and 21% in early intervention and 15% in delayed intervention had high school education	Dalcroze eurhythmics (66)	Delayed intervention (68)	134	97/75 (8)	96/76 (6)	1/60	25 wk	83	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Falls: risk of falling (RR), rate of falls (IRR); prospectively monitored daily with falls diaries that were mailed monthly to study coordinator; balance: OLS; mobility: TUG test
Voukelatos et al,42 2007	Community dwelling in Central and Southeastern Sydney, Australia; 14% in the tai chi group and 17% in the control group had university education, 43% in the tai chi group and 41% in the control group had intermediate-level education, 16% in the tai chi group and 12% in the control group had below intermediate-level education; remaining participants had secondary education or technical college education	Tai chi (347)	Wait-list control (337)	684	85/69 (7) (total, both groups combined)	83	1/60	16 wk	71	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Falls: risk of falling (RR), rate of falls (IRR); prospectively monitored daily during 24 wk with a falls calendar that was mailed back to study center monthly; if participants did not send back falls calendars, they were called within 2 wk to assess fall status
Wolf et al,47 1996	Community dwelling; 20.8% in tai chi group and 20.3% in the wellness education group had elementary or high school education, 56.9% in the tai chi group and 51.6% in the wellness education group had college education, and 22.2% in the tai chi group and 28.1% in the wellness education group had graduate school education	Tai chi (72)	Wellness education (64)	137	81/77 (5)	84/75 (4)	2/Minimum of 45 (individual); instructor time, unclear how much time in group setting; participants were asked to perform the exercises 2 times daily for 15 min	15 wk	NR	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Falls: rate of falls (IRR); monthly calendars or monthly telephone calls by project staff; nurse coordinator verified all fall reports requiring medical attention; upper body strength: HGS
Wolf et al,43 2003	Institutionalized; 80.0% in the tai chi group and 81.6% in the wellness group were White; 80.0% in the tai chi group and 78.0% in the wellness group had high school and beyond education	Tai chi (145)	Wellness education (141)	286	95/81 (7)	94/81 (6)	2/60-90	48 wk	76	Facilities randomized (cluster randomization)/assessors blinded	Falls: risk of falling (RR), rate of falls (IRR); participants reported if they experienced a fall (1) to identify the day and (2) to give details about circumstances and if medical attention was needed; forms were sent to instructor weekly and reviewed by study staff monthly; participants who fell were called to confirm the fall within 1 wk after reviewing of the forms; participants who did not hand in their forms were called for confirmation within 1-2 wk
Woo et al,44 2007	Community dwelling, recruited from community centers in Shatin, Hong Kong; no further statement about socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity	Tai chi (60)	Control (60)	120	50/Men: 68 (2); women: 70 (3)	50/Men: 68 (3); women: 70 (3)	3/NR	12 mo (52 wk)	81	Participants randomized/assessors blinded	Falls: risk of falling (RR); means of assessment NR; balance: OLS (reported average of both legs); upper body strength: HGS (dominant hand, results were combined for men and women before entering the meta-analysis)

Abbreviations: BBS, Berg Balance Scale; FR, functional reach; GP, general practitioner; HGS, handgrip strength; IRR, incidence rate ratio; NR, not reported; OLS, 1-leg stance; RR, risk ratio; SMD, standardized mean difference (Hedges g); STS, sit to stand; TAFE, Technical and Further Education; TUG, Timed Up and Go.

^aNumbers are rounded to whole numbers.

^bType of dwelling, statements about socioeconomic status (income and education level), and race/ethnicity as reported by the authors.