Want To Reduce Fall Risk? Try Tai Chi

Taking up tai chi may be one way to help with balance and reduce fall risk as we age, according to a new study in the journal BMJ Open.

The researchers reviewed the results of 18 previous studies that included 3,824 participants older than age 60. They found that practicing tai chi reduced falls by 31 percent overall and the number of people who fell by 20 percent.

“Tai chi is one more option when thinking about adding exercise to your day,” says Nina Regevik, M.D., FACP, who is board certified in Integrative Holistic Medicine and co-director of Integrative Health Services at Raritan Bay Medical Center. “And it may be especially helpful if you’re worried about balance or falling.”