08/31/2026
It found “high certainty evidence” for the effectiveness of traditional Chinese exercise – such as tai chi, qigong, baduanjin, wuqinxi and yijinjing – for a range of health outcomes for people with musculoskeletal disorders.
These included improving movement in knee osteoarthritis, mental health associated with neck pain and knee osteoarthritis, and sleep quality associated with fibromyalgia.
Tai chi, in particular, significantly eased chronic musculoskeletal pain and stiffness in several conditions while increasing bone mineral density in participants with osteopenia or osteoporosis, the research found.
Maximum benefits were achieved when people did these exercises for longer than six months, at least three times a week, clocking up a total of at least 150 minutes a week.
“This comprehensive [umbrella review] provides a definitive, high-level evidence synthesis supporting [traditional Chinese exercises] as effective interventions for a range of musculoskeletal conditions],” the researchers concluded.
“The evidence, particularly for tai chi, reaches high certainty for improving key outcomes such as physical function in knee osteoarthritis, mental health in neck pain, sleep in fibromyalgia and bone density in osteoporosis.”
The findings suggested traditional Chinese exercises should be included in clinical guidelines and rehabilitation programmes worldwide, the researchers added.
Analysis finds ‘high certainty evidence’ of their effectiveness for the 1.7bn people worldwide with musculoskeletal conditions
