People who survive strokes are seven times more likely to suffer falls than healthy adults, resulting in fractures, decreased mobility and fear of further falling resulting in social isolation.

A pilot study suggests that practicing tai chi can help people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis both mentally and physically.

A meta-analysis suggests that tai chi can help reduce symptoms of depression in older adults.

A joint Chinese-US research team has found that practising tai chi leads to increased brain volume and improved cognitive function in elderly people.

Practising tai chi twice a week can help Parkinson's patients improve their balance and walking ability, according to an American study.

Seniors who practice tai chi regularly demonstrate improved arterial compliance (the ability of arteries to expand and contract with the pumping of the heart), as well as increased leg muscle strength, according to a Hong Kong study.

Not exactly research but how often do you get to see tai chi performed in space: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl6sjHGK5bg

Tai chi has been shown to increase brain volume in older people, as well as improve memory and thinking test scores.

A US team has found that the use of tai chi alongside drug therapy may provide additional improvements in clinical outcomes in the treatment of geriatric depression.

Tai chi may promote gains in neuropsychological functioning in breast cancer survivors, according to a pilot study by American researchers.

Korean research suggests that tai chi can improve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs), quality of life (QoL) and testosterone levels in patients with benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH).

The essence of the Chinese internal martial arts is to harmonise strength and softness.

The addition of tai chi to endurance training (ET) leads to improved exercise tolerance and quality of life (QOL) in elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), according to an Italian study.

Tai chi has a better impact on preventing falls in the elderly than conventional physiotherapy, perhaps because it leads to an increased sense of self-efficacy in practitioners.

The first pragmatic randomised controlled trial of tai chi for people with low back pain has shown that it can improve pain and disability outcomes in this population.

In a four-year study of 195 subjects with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease, tai chi has been found to  improve postural stability and walking ability and to reduce the risk of falling.

Physiological responses normally associated with involuntary autonomic thermoregulation can be voluntarily activated during a tai chi exercise.

Tai chi can help prevent weight gain and maintain lean body mass in breast cancer survivors by stabilising insulin levels, say American researchers.

Practising tai chi can lead to a reduction in levels of inflammatory markers in the blood of older adults.

A US pilot study suggests that tai chi may be able to help cancer patients with cognitive problems that can arise as a side effect of chemotherapy treatment.

Taking part in a 12-week tai chi programme has multiple health benefits for post-menopausal women, particularly for those suffering from age-related loss of muscle strength.

Tai chi exercise has measurable benefits for patients with chronic systolic heart failure (HF).

Older adults who practice tai chi (TC) demonstrate better performance in cognitive tests than those who take part in conventional exercise or who do not exercise.

A UK study has shown that participating in a single tai chi class is associated with significant improvements in psychological wellbeing.

Hong Kong researchers have found that tai chi (TC) may offer specific cognitive benefits in elderly people at risk of progressive cognitive decline.

Tai chi (TC) can improve metabolic parameters in obese diabetic patients, according to Taiwanese researchers.

A Japanese study has investigated the influence of personality type on the change in mood status after a brief period of tai chi (TC).

A three-month programme of simplified (13-form) taichi qigong (two x sixty minute sessions a week) was found to be superior to both an exercise group (walking plus breathing techniques) and a control group (usual activities) in improving symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Combining a weekly Tai Chi Chih (TCC) exercise class with standard depression treatment leads to greater improvement in depression symptoms for elderly adults.

A study by an American research team has demonstrated that tai chi exercise (TC) and supplementation with green tea polyphenols (GTP) can benefit bone remodeling and muscle strength in postmenopausal women by reducing oxidative stress damage.

Tai chi training can help regulate the autonomic nervous system in patients with coronary heart disease.

A US pilot study of tai chi for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suggests that it may be an effective treatment.

A randomised controlled trial carried out in the USA has evaluated the effectiveness of a six-week tai chi course in reducing symptoms, increasing function and improving psychosocial status in arthritis patients.

Taking part in a six-month tai chi (TC) exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program may lead to a better prognosis for cardiac events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

A Norwegian study has used both quantitative and qualitative methods to examine how group tai chi exercise impacted on disease activity, physical function, health status and experience in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Korean researchers have shown that tai chi was able to improve bone density and muscle strength and decrease fear of falling, when practised by older women suffering from osteoarthritis.

American authors have carried out a comprehensive review of the health benefits of qigong and tai chi.

A systematic review carried out by US researchers has found that tai chi appears to be associated with improvements in many aspects of psychological health.

American researchers have found that long-term tai chi exercise improves physical performance among people with peripheral neuropathy.

A group of elderly Tai Chi practitioners (with several years of practice experience) were compared with a similarly aged group of sedentary subjects.

In a US study, 94 healthy but physically inactive older adults were assigned to either learn Tai Chi twice a week or to a waiting list.

A systematic review of 47 studies published in English and Chinese has shown that tai chi benefits balance, strength, cardiovascular and respiratory function, flexibility, the immune system, symptoms of arthritis, muscular strength and psychological well being.

In a study to determine the effects of tai chi on boosting immunity to the shingles virus, 36 adults (over 60 years) were assigned to a 15-week tai chi programme group or a waiting group.

A small study of 30 patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease has revealed the benefits of Tai Chi.

Two hundred and fifty-six healthy, physically inactive adults (aged 70-92) were randomly assigned to a Tai Chi group or an exercise/stretching group in this six-month study.

30 college students who were enrolled in this study practised Tai Chi twice a week for an hour each time over a 3 month period.

South Korean research has shown that (Sun-style) tai chi is effective in alleviating several symptoms of osteoarthritis.

A study was set up to determine whether Tai Chi taught and practised in a community setting had similar benefits to studies conducted in laboratory settings.

In a small US study, 15 people with heart failure were assigned to receive 2 one-hour tai chi classes twice a week for 12 weeks, in addition to standard medical care, and compared to a similar sized group who received standard care alone.

In this study, 118 inactive but healthy men and women, aged 60 to 92 years with moderate sleep complaints, were randomly assigned to a tai chi group or a low-impact exercise group.

This Hong Kong study randomly assigned 132 healthy post-menopausal women to supervised tai chi (45 minutes each time, five times per week for a year) or to a non tai chi, inactive (sedentary lifestyle) group.

A pilot study funded by the Diabetes Australia Research Trust and carried out by a team from the University of Queensland has indicated that qigong and tai chi exercises can significantly improve several markers of metabolic syndrome.

A Korean study compared 29 older adults (mean age 77.8 years) who undertook a Sun-style Tai Chi exercise programme (three sessions a week for 12 weeks)  with 30 controls of similar age.

A study of 39 Chinese adults (average age 65.7 years), all of whom had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor, found that three one-hour tai chi classes a week for 12 weeks resulted in significant improvements in balance, muscular strength, endurance and flexibility.

A number of studies have suggested that practising Tai Chi can improve balance and stability in healthy older people and reduce the rate of falling.

Performance of tai chi leads to a decrease in activity of the sympathetic nervous system, to levels that are not achieved by performing comparable physical activity alone.

A small study has compared the benefits of short form tai chi against either brisk walking or sedentary controls in elderly women.

Practising tai chi may help boost immune function and improve blood sugar control in people with type-2 diabetes.

Tai chi therapy can boost the immune system of patients with shingles to levels comparable to those achieved using a vaccine against varicella zoster virus (VZV, the virus which causes chickenpox and shingles).

Two more studies have confirmed the value of tai chi for improving balance in the elderly.

Tai chi is as effective as a brisk walk in raising heart rate variability (HRV).

Researchers in the USA have found that a combination of tai chi and qigong (TQ) can enhance older adults' immune responses to the flu vaccine.

Tai chi can enhance sleep stability in patients with chronic heart failure.

A large Australian study of 702 healthy people (mean age 69) has concluded that a 16-week programme of tai chi classes improved their balance and reduced the incidence of falls.

The mechanisms by which tai chi can improve balance were investigated in a randomised controlled trial of 49 healthy older adults.

Tai chi can improve blood markers of type 2 diabetes.

A prospective longitudinal pilot study of tai chi for young adults, carried out over 18 weeks, found that their subjective health increased.

It appears that although tai chi (TC) does not directly engage in tactile stimulus training, it is capable of eliciting enhanced tactile acuity in long-term practitioners.

Tai chi can improve the pulmonary function of asthmatic children.

Practising tai chi chih (TCC), a Westernized version of tai chi, has been shown to promote sleep quality in older adults with moderate sleep complaints.

A systematic review of the literature on the effect of tai chi exercise on blood pressure (BP) suggests that it may reduce BP and serve as a practical, non-pharmacological adjunct to conventional hypertension management.

A systematic review of seven randomised controlled trials has concluded that has shown that tai chi has the potential to reduce falls or risk of falls among the elderly

A Chinese study has investigated the effects of 14 weeks of tai chi practice on metabolic control and lipid metabolism in women with type 2 diabetes.

Tai chi appears to be safe and may be beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Korean investigators have examined the effect of tai chi on disease activity, flexibility and depression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

An Australian pilot study (11 people) suggests that a twelve week tai chi and qigong training programme results in significant improvements in four of the seven indicators of metabolic syndrome

American authors have reviewed intervention studies using tai chi and qigong (TC & QG) in order to identify the physical and psychological health outcomes shown to be associated with TC & QG in adults over 55.

A brief course in tai chi helps improve balance in people who have had a stroke.

Six months of tai chi can improve glucose control, increase adherence to self-care activities, and lead to a better quality of life in patients with type two diabetes.

Taiwanese scientists have carried out an experimental study to identify biomarkers associated with the health benefits of tai chi.

Tai Chi has a small positive effect on pain and disability in people with arthritis.

Researchers from the USA have found that knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients who practise tai chi show improved physical functioning and experience less pain.

Compared with healthy controls, tai chi practitioners demonstrate better stability and body awareness.

A Canadian study of female computer users has concluded that tai chi (TC) has considerable potential as a cost-effective way of promoting musculoskeletal fitness and psychological well-being in the workplace.

Ageing has a negative effect on the ability to accurately point a finger toward stationary and moving visual targets.

In a four-year study of 195 subjects with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease, tai chi has been found to  improve postural stability and walking ability and to reduce the risk of falling.