Impact of Tai Chi Chuan on Adult Biomechanical Outcomes: A Comparative Evaluation of Postural and Gait Outcomes

Background: Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) has gained increasing attention as a low-impact, multicomponent exercise with potential benefits for biomechanical health in adults. However, evidence regarding its comparative effectiveness against no intervention and other active exercise programs remains dispersed across heterogeneous studies. Objective: To evaluate the effects of Tai Chi Chuan on key biomechanical outcomes in adults, including balance, gait, muscle strength, proprioception, and neuromuscular control, compared with no intervention or active exercise comparators. Methods: A systematic synthesis of controlled studies was undertaken, focusing on adult populations exposed to Tai Chi Chuan interventions of at least four weeks’ duration. Outcomes included balance and postural control, gait parameters, muscle strength and proprioception, and joint kinematics or kinetics. Findings were synthesized narratively due to methodological heterogeneity. Results: Across included studies, Tai Chi Chuan was consistently associated with improvements in balance and postural control, with enhanced performance on validated measures such as the Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go, and single-leg stance. For example, clinically meaningful gains in single-leg stance time were reported (mean differences 3.44–17.07, p