This page explains the public-health and educational sources that inform the general wellness themes presented in Tai Chi. It is intended to help users understand the meaning of common evidence-based terms used across the app, such as balance training, strength-related movement, functional movement, fall prevention, Tai Chi, and BMI.
Tai Chi is a wellness and fitness product. This page is not medical advice and does not replace individualized guidance from a physician, physical therapist, or other licensed clinician.
How Tai Chi Uses These Sources
Tai Chi’s course themes are aligned with broad adult wellness and healthy-aging principles: regular physical activity, muscle-strengthening activity, balance-focused activity for fall prevention, flexibility-supportive movement, and functional movement practice. For joint-friendly programming, Tai Chi also draws from publicly available osteoarthritis exercise guidance that supports tailored therapeutic exercise and gradual progression.
Referenced public sources
World Health Organization (WHO) — Physical activity recommendations for older adults
WHO recommends that older adults perform regular physical activity, including muscle-strengthening activity on 2 or more days each week. For older adults with reduced mobility, WHO also recommends physical activity that emphasizes balance and fall prevention on 3 or more days per week.
WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour
WHO’s guideline notes that older adults should include varied multicomponent physical activity that emphasizes functional balance and strength training at moderate or greater intensity on 3 or more days per week to enhance functional capacity and help prevent falls.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Older Adult Fall Prevention / STEADI
The CDC’s older adult fall prevention resources and the STEADI initiative provide a clinical and public-health framework for reducing fall risk. These materials support the use of balance practice, functional movement, screening, and practical prevention strategies for older adults.
National Institute on Aging (NIA) — Exercise and physical activity for older adults
NIA explains that older adults benefit from a mix of physical activities, including aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and balance-focused exercise. NIA educational materials also emphasize gradual progression, consistency, and safe participation as part of healthy aging.
National Institute on Aging (NIA) Toolkit — Exercise and Older Adults
NIA’s older-adult exercise resources are designed for older adults, caregivers, and healthcare providers and support clear communication around mobility, strength, balance, and safe exercise habits.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) — Osteoarthritis and therapeutic exercise
NICE advises that people with osteoarthritis should be offered therapeutic exercise tailored to their needs, such as local muscle strengthening and general aerobic fitness. NICE also notes that symptoms may increase when exercise begins, but long-term adherence can benefit joints, reduce pain, and improve function.
Plain-language meaning of common terms
Balance training
Balance training refers to exercises that help a person stay steady while standing, shifting weight, walking, or changing direction. Public-health guidance commonly connects this type of training with fall-prevention and mobility-support contexts.
Strength-related movement
Strength-related movement refers to motions that challenge muscles against resistance, such as body weight, resistance bands, or light external load. For many adults, it is commonly used to support daily function, walking, sit-to-stand ability, and overall physical capacity.
Functional movement
Functional movement refers to movement patterns used in daily life, such as standing up from a chair, stepping, reaching, turning, carrying, and walking. In healthy-aging contexts, functional practice is often paired with balance and strength work.
Fall prevention
Fall prevention is a broad term that may include balance practice, safer movement habits, environmental awareness, medical review, and risk screening. In a fitness app context, it generally refers to movement training that supports steadiness and confidence during daily activity.
Therapeutic exercise
Therapeutic exercise is a structured exercise approach tailored to a person’s needs and goals, often used in clinical guidance for joint symptoms and function. In Tai Chi, this term is used only in its general educational sense when describing publicly available exercise guidance and not to represent medical treatment.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi is a low-impact mind-body practice that combines slow, controlled movements, posture, breathing, and attention. Public educational resources commonly discuss Tai Chi in relation to balance, flexibility, and gentle movement for adults.
BMI (Body Mass Index)
BMI is a screening measure calculated from a person’s height and weight. In adults, it is commonly used as a general weight-status screening tool and is usually grouped into categories such as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. BMI does not directly measure body fat and should be interpreted together with other health information when relevant.
BMI formula
Authoritative source: CDC — About Adult BMI · Adult BMI Categories
Important note
The existence of these sources does not mean Tai Chi is a medical device, medical provider, or clinical rehabilitation service. Tai Chi uses publicly available health guidance to support safer and more understandable wellness programming for adults. Users with pain, dizziness, unstable gait, recent surgery, or significant medical conditions should seek personalized advice from a qualified healthcare professional before starting any exercise program.