Tai chi and magnetic stimulation: a promising but still fragile signal for sleep in older adults

A combination assessed in three trials

This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the combination of tai chi and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, known as rTMS. The researchers searched six bibliographic databases for randomized trials, with the search ending on December 16, 2025.

Three trials were included. The abstract reviewed reports comparisons with control interventions but does not specify what they were. It therefore does not establish whether the combination outperforms tai chi alone, rTMS alone or another form of care.

A favorable result, not a gain measured in hours of sleep

The pooled analysis suggests a reduction in sleep disturbance severity with the combined intervention. The standardized mean difference is −0.51, with a 95% confidence interval ranging from −0.90 to −0.12.

This measure expresses the difference between groups on a standardized scale. It does not represent either a number of additional minutes of sleep or a proportion of people whose sleep disturbances resolved. The abstract provides no absolute result that would allow such a conversion.

The other sleep-related measures show no conclusive results. The same applies to depression, anxiety and stress: the signal observed for sleep does not demonstrate an emotional benefit.

Why the conclusion remains provisional

The authors emphasize that the result depends on the individual studies included. With only three trials, this sensitivity limits the strength of the conclusion. The meta-analysis therefore suggests a possible benefit rather than established effectiveness.

The abstract mentions an assessment of risk of bias and certainty of evidence, including the use of GRADE, but does not provide detailed conclusions. It also does not specify intervention duration, persistence of effects or adverse effects.

This work is not enough to recommend the combination in routine practice. Above all, it supports further trials to clarify its value, limitations and safety in older adults.

What we can take away

The combination of tai chi and rTMS shows a favorable signal for sleep disturbance severity in older adults, but the available abstract does not establish an advantage over either intervention alone.