Objectives: The aim of this study is to comprehensively review empirical evidence on the effectiveness of Baduanjin exercise, one type of mind-body focused qigong exercise, on individuals' physical, cognitive, and mental well-being; outline potential mechanisms; and, suggest potential implication strategies for using Baduanjin in clinical practices and for future research.
Methods: Recent randomized-controlled studies and systematic reviews/meta-analyses published in English were searched in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus up to July 2022. The search terms include Baduanjin and sleep, chronic illness, cognition, mental health, etc. We only selected papers that specifically studied the health effects of Baduanjin, excluding those that involved other forms of Qigong or other traditional Chinese medical practices. Since many RCT studies have already been included in the review papers that we selected, only those not covered in the review papers were selected to avoid repetition.
Results: 19 recent randomized-controlled studies and 8 systematic reviews were identified. In general, the effectiveness of Baduanjin exercise on individuals' physical, cognitive, and mental health is evident. Baduanjin has proven to be effective in improving sleep quality, including reducing difficulties in getting asleep and reducing daytime sleepiness. It also reduces fatigue and improves the quality of life for patients with other physical health issues, such as cancer, musculoskeletal pain, and chronic illnesses. The effectiveness of Baduanjin exercise is also evident in cognition, improving executive functions, and slowing down age-related cognitive deterioration. Similarly, Baduanjin alleviates various types of mental illnesses, increases patients' social competence, and enhances emotional regulation.
Conclusion: There is initial evidence on the safety and efficacy of Baduanjin in improving individuals' various aspects of health and well-being, suggesting that Baduanjin may serve as an effective adjunct to conventional treatments for a variety of clinical health benefits. More research is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of Baduanjin in other non-Chinese ethnic populations.
Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with cognitive decline. Lifestyle behaviors such as yoga practices play a significant role in preventing cognitive decline.
Purpose: The goal of this study was to assess the effect of yoga intervention on working memory and prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation in T2DM patients.
Methods: Twenty T2DM participants, aged between 40 and 60 years, volunteered for a 6-week study. Participants were randomized into a yoga practice (n = 10) and a waitlist control group (n = 10). The n-back task was administered to evaluate working memory before and after the intervention. While performing the working memory task, PFC oxygenation was monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy.
Results: The yoga group showed a significant improvement in working memory performance. The accuracy improved in 1-back (mean difference of 4.73%, 95% CI[0.69,8.77], P = .026) and 2-back (8.0%, 95% CI[1.89,14.1], P = .016) task conditions. The reaction time improved in 0-back (mean difference of -79.07 milliseconds, 95% CI[-128.3,-29.8]), 1-back (mean difference of -119.17 milliseconds, 95% CI[-217.5,-20.8] ) and 2-back (-76.06 milliseconds, 95% CI[-148.8,-3.3]) task conditions. In the yoga group, at post-intervention, higher oxygenation was observed during 0-back and 1-back task conditions (Beta coefficient mean difference of 211.3, 95% CI[2.8, 420.0], P = .048 and 80.5, 95% CI [3.7,157.2], P = .042 respectively) in the left PFC region compared to the pre-intervention values. The control group showed no significant change in working memory performance and PFC oxygenation.
Conclusions: The study suggests that yoga practice may improve working memory performance and facilitate higher PFC oxygenation in T2DM patients. Further studies with a larger sample and a longer intervention period are required to strengthen the findings.
Context: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels. Yoga has been shown to have positive effects on blood sugar levels in diabetes patients. However, there is limited research on the effects of specific yoga poses on blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a single yoga asana, Ardha Matsyendrasana, on random blood glucose (RBG) levels in patients with T2DM. Specifically, we aimed to investigate whether a 15-minute practice of Ardha Matsyendrasana could reduce RBG levels in patients with T2DM.
Design: This study employed a self-controlled design to evaluate the effect of Ardha Matsyendrasana on blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Participants: 100 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were recruited for this study.
Interventions: All participants underwent two sessions: a control session (CS) and an asana session (AS), each lasting 15 minutes. During the CS, participants rested in a sitting pose, while during the AS, they practiced Ardha Matsyendrasana. The order of the sessions was randomized, with half the participants undergoing the CS on day 1, the AS on day 2, and the other half undergoing the sessions in reverse order.
Outcome measures: We measured participants' random blood glucose (RBG) levels immediately before and after each intervention.
Statistical analysis: The statistical package for the social sciences, version 16, was used to perform a paired t-test to compare RBG levels before and after each intervention.
Results: The study demonstrated a significant reduction in random blood glucose (RBG) levels in the Ardha Matsyendrasana session compared to the control session. This trend was observed in both males and females with T2DM.
Conclusions: A single session of Ardha Matsyendrasana for 15 minutes can effectively reduce blood glucose levels in patients with T2DM. However, further studies are required to determine the long-term effects of this asana on glycemic control.
Context: Anxiety is a common mental health concern in the USA that is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, arterial stiffness, and cardiovascular disease. Therapists have used eight-week programs for mindfulness meditation to treat anxiety; however little is known about the psychophysiological effects of a single meditation session.
Objective: The study intended to assess the effects of a one-hour, mindfulness-meditation session on anxiety symptomology and cardiovascular function, including aortic pulsatility.
Design: The research team performed a prospective, single-group study.
Setting: The study took place at Michigan Technological University.
Participants: Participants were 14 young adults with an initial Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score of 8 to 26, showing mild to moderate anxiety.
Intervention: Participants took part in a single, one-hour, guided, mindfulness-meditation session.
Outcome measures: The research team: (1) administered the BAI during an orientation session and at 60-minutes post intervention, and (2) measured the cardiovascular variables of qualified participants at the orientation, at baseline prior to the intervention, immediately post intervention, and at 60 minutes post intervention, including systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial blood pressure (DAP), heart rate (HR), aortic pulse pressure (aPP), aortic pulsatility, aortic augmentation index (AIx) at 75 bpm, carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (crPWV), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), and respiratory rate.
Results: Participants had a significant decrease in the BAI scores between baseline and 60-minutes post intervention (P = .01) and a significant reduction in aortic pulsatility-aPP x HR-between baseline and immediately post intervention and between baseline and 60-minutes post intervention (both P < .01).
Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest that one hour of introductory mindfulness meditation can have both psychological and cardiovascular benefits for anxious individuals.
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