| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
RCT |
| Participants |
Setting: Legacy Health System, Portland, Oregon, USA
N = 256
Sample: people enrolled in health maintenance organisation (70% women)
Age (years): mean 77.5 (SD 5), range 70 to 92
Inclusion criteria: age ≥ 70; physician clearance to participate; inactive (no moderate to strenuous activity in last 3 months); walks independently
Exclusion criteria: chronic medical problems that would limit participation; cognitive impairment |
| Interventions |
1. Exercise intervention: Tai Chi 1 hour, 3 x per wk for 26 wks
2. Control: low‐level stretching 1 hour, 3 x per wk for 26 wks |
| Outcomes |
1. Rate of falls
2. Number of people falling
Other outcomes reported but not included in this review |
| Duration of the study |
1 year |
| Notes |
|
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Computer‐generated random numbers |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Insufficient information to permit judgement |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Participants and personnel not blind to allocated group but impact of non‐blinding unclear |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
Falls and fallers |
Low risk |
Falls reported by participants who were aware of their group allocation. Fall diaries coded by blinded research assistant. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
Falls |
High risk |
SeeAppendix 3 for method of assessment |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
Fallers |
High risk |
SeeAppendix 3 for method of assessment |
| Risk of bias in recall of falls |
Low risk |
Prospective. Quote: "... recorded by each participant in a daily "fall calendar." Collected on a monthly basis. |
