JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Music has frequently been utilized in movement exercises to enhance health benefits. However, scientific evidence regarding the application of music to Tai Chi practice is limited.

Objective:

This scoping review was to understand how music has been used in Tai Chi practice, and whether music could be applied to Tai Chi practice to help optimize its benefits.

Methods:

PubMed, CINAHL, CNKI, and Weipu databases were searched. We included studies that comparing the Tai Chi practice experience and/or health outcomes between individuals practicing Tai Chi with music and those practicing Tai Chi without music. Journal articles published through September 2022 were identified. Two researchers independently performed study selection and data extraction. Thematic analysis was employed to summarize and categorize the findings of the included studies.

Results:

Seven studies were included in this review. All seven included articles are experimental studies. Practicing Tai Chi with music might lead to positive perceptions of Tai Chi practice (e.g., motivation, concentration, enjoyment, compliance, performance) and higher evaluations of Tai Chi instructional quality, especially for Tai Chi beginners. The effects of incorporating music to Tai Chi practice on health outcomes are inconclusive due to the heterogeneities of the sample size, and the intervention components, lengths and frequencies of the included studies.

Conclusions:

Applying music to Tai Chi practice may result in positive Tai Chi practice experience and adherence, particularly for beginners, which could help improve the dissemination and implementation of Tai Chi interventions for public health. However, whether applying music to Tai Chi practice leads to synergetic effects on health outcomes needs further investigation.