Evidence Map of Tai Chi and Qigong: Update from 2014-2024

Recommended citation: Mak S, Allen J, De Vries G, Begashaw M, Beroes-Severin J, Miake-Lye I, Shekelle P. Evidence Map of Tai Chi and Qigong: Update from 2014-2024. Washington, DC: Evidence Synthesis Program, Health Systems Research, Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs. VA ESP Project #05-226; 2025.

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Takeaway

This evidence map shows that the evidence base for tai chi and qigong has grown stronger since the last review in 2014. Among 26 systematic reviews published between 2014 and 2024, 2 showed high certainty and 16 showed moderate certainty of benefit for a range of adult health conditions. While promising, more high-quality research is needed to expand the evidence base, especially for health conditions of interest to health care systems such as the VA.

Context

Tai chi and qigong are widely practiced mind-body interventions often used as complementary or integrative therapies. Despite their popularity, past evidence syntheses have found limited or inconclusive support for their effectiveness. This updated evidence map focuses on systematic reviews published between 2014 and 2024 for potential benefit of tai chi and qigong across adult health conditions. It aims to guide decision-makers, clinicians, and researchers by identifying new evidence, where gaps remain, and potential future research needed to better understand the role of tai chi and qigong as interventions for adult health conditions.

Key Findings

This review identified 26 systematic reviews published since 2014 that assessed the effectiveness of tai chi or qigong across 21 adult health conditions. Among these, 2 reviews (on hypertension and osteoporosis) concluded with high certainty of benefit, while 16 reviews showed moderate certainty of benefit for conditions such as chronic low back pain, diabetes, depression, falls, and knee osteoarthritis. Each review compared tai chi or qigong to another active therapy (eg, exercise, education), and more than half of the reviews included over 10 primary studies. Evidence on adverse events was reported in 69% of reviews, with no serious harms generally noted. One review about tai chi and falls did report moderate certainty of evidence for small harms from any adverse event. Future research should focus on expanding high-quality trials to other conditions and implementing protocols to collect data on adverse events to further inform clinical and policy decisions.

See also

Evidence Map of Tai Chi and Qigong: Update from 2014–2024 (Management Brief)

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