CONCLUSIONS
Long‐term Tai Chi training is associated with higher levels of physical function in older adults, suggesting a potential preventative healthy aging effect. By contrast, short‐term practice of Tai Chi (i.e., 6 months of training) may not lead to significant improvements in physical function in a healthy, active population of older adults. The impact of short‐term training in healthy older adults is less clear. Both potential longer‐term preventive effects and shorter‐term restorative effects warrant further research with rigorous, adequately powered controlled clinical trials.