Effects of Tai Chi and Yoga on Flexibility, Anxiety, and Sleep Quality in Women

March 24, 2026 updated by: Tuğçe Tahmaz, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

The Effect of Tai Chi and Yoga on Flexibility, Anxiety, and Sleep Quality in Women

Healthy women aged 18-45 years with BMI <30 were randomized into two groups to receive either Tai Chi or yoga training. Both interventions were delivered for 8 weeks, 2 sessions per week, 45 minutes per session, at Bahçeşehir University. Flexibility, anxiety, and sleep quality were assessed before and after the intervention using standardized flexibility tests, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The outcome assessor was blinded to group assignment.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study evaluates the effects of Tai Chi and yoga on flexibility, anxiety, and sleep quality in healthy women. Eligible participants (women aged 18-45 years, BMI <30, without prior musculoskeletal surgery and without conditions that would contraindicate exercise) are randomized into a Tai Chi group or a yoga group. The outcome assessor is blinded to group assignment.

Both groups participate in supervised exercise sessions conducted in the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department laboratories at Bahçeşehir University. The Tai Chi group follows a Yang-style program consisting of 10 movements, delivered over 8 weeks, twice weekly, 45 minutes per session, including warm-up, Tai Chi practice, and cool-down. The yoga group completes an 8-week program delivered twice weekly for 45 minutes per session, consisting of asanas targeting flexibility, strengthening, and balance, followed by cool-down and meditation.

Assessments are performed at baseline and after completion of the 8-week program. Flexibility is evaluated using standardized tests (sit-and-reach; trunk extensor flexibility; trunk lateral flexion; hip flexor flexibility; ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion). Anxiety is measured with the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and sleep quality is measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female, 18-45 years of age
  • BMI <30 kg/m²
  • No history of musculoskeletal surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Congenital or acquired condition affecting the musculoskeletal system
  • Any systemic disease or condition that makes exercise contraindicated, or pregnancy
  • Chronic neurological, metabolic, or cardiovascular disease

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Tai Chi Exercise Group
Participants receive Yang-style Tai Chi (10 movements) for 8 weeks, 2 sessions per week, 45 minutes per session, including warm-up, Tai Chi practice, and cool-down.
Other: Tai Chi
Yang-style Tai Chi program consisting of 10 movements delivered for 8 weeks, twice weekly, 45 minutes per session (warm-up ~10 min; Tai Chi practice ~30 min; cool-down ~5 min).
Active Comparator: Yoga Exercise Group
Participants receive yoga for 8 weeks, 2 sessions per week, 45 minutes per session, consisting of asana-based flexibility/strength/balance practice followed by cool-down and meditation.
Other: Yoga
Yoga program delivered for 8 weeks, twice weekly, 45 minutes per session, consisting of 30-35 minutes of asanas (flexibility, strengthening, balance) followed by cool-down and meditation (~5 minutes).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Sleep Quality
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) total score assessing sleep quality over the past month; higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality (range 0-21).
Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Anxiety
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) total score (0-63); higher scores indicate greater anxiety severity.
Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).
Flexibility
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).
Change from baseline in standardized flexibility tests (sit-and-reach; trunk extensor flexibility; trunk lateral flexion right/left; hip flexor flexibility; ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion ROM measured by goniometer).
Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).
BMI
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).
BMI: Body mass index (kg/m²).
Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Tuğçe Tahmaz, PhD, Bahçeşehir University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 14, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 2, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 13, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 24, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2209 (TÜBİTAK)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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