The Effect of Baduanjin on Patients Undergoing Knee Replacement Surgery

August 7, 2025 updated by: Niran Çoban

The Effect of Baduanjin on Pain, Comfort, and Quality of Recovery in Patients Undergoing Knee Replacement Surgery

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise, on pain, comfort, and quality of recovery in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The study will be conducted between July 2025 and July 2026 at Yalova Training and Research Hospital's Orthopedics Clinic. Sixty patients will be randomly assigned into two groups: an intervention group practicing Baduanjin and a control group receiving standard postoperative care. The intervention will begin on the first postoperative day and continue for three weeks. Outcome measures include the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, the General Comfort Questionnaire, and the Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40) questionnaire. These assessments will be conducted weekly for three weeks. The control group will follow routine postoperative care without Baduanjin. The primary objective is to determine whether Baduanjin can improve postoperative outcomes in terms of pain reduction, increased comfort, and better recovery quality.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most frequently performed orthopedic surgeries, especially among elderly individuals, to relieve pain, improve joint function, and enhance quality of life in patients with advanced knee osteoarthritis. However, the postoperative period can be challenging due to significant pain, reduced comfort, limited mobility, and psychological distress, all of which may negatively affect the recovery process. Effective postoperative management is essential to reduce pain, improve comfort, and enhance the quality of recovery.

Pharmacological treatments are commonly used for postoperative pain management; however, their side effects and limitations have increased interest in complementary and integrative practices. One such practice is Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise that consists of eight gentle, coordinated movements. These movements integrate physical posture, breathing control, and mental focus to promote physical and emotional well-being. Baduanjin can be practiced while standing or sitting, making it suitable for patients in the postoperative period. Studies suggest that Baduanjin may reduce pain, improve psychological states such as anxiety and depression, and promote faster physical recovery through improved circulation, joint flexibility, and relaxation.

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of Baduanjin exercises on pain intensity, comfort level, and quality of recovery in patients who have undergone total knee arthroplasty. The study will be conducted between July 2025 and July 2026 at Yalova Training and Research Hospital, Orthopedics Clinic. A total of 60 participants will be randomly assigned into two groups using a random number table: a Baduanjin group (intervention) and a control group. The intervention group will perform supervised Baduanjin exercises starting from the first postoperative day for a duration of three weeks. Exercises will be practiced under nurse supervision and consist of the eight classical Baduanjin movements.

Pain, comfort, and quality of recovery will be evaluated at the end of each week using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the General Comfort Questionnaire, and the Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40) instrument. The control group will receive only routine postoperative care, including standard physical therapy and pain management, and will complete the same assessments at the same time intervals.

The primary hypothesis is that Baduanjin practice will significantly reduce pain, increase comfort levels, and improve the quality of recovery in patients undergoing TKA compared to standard care. The secondary objective is to contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting non-pharmacological, mind-body interventions in postoperative nursing care. Given its accessibility, safety, and ease of learning, Baduanjin may serve as a valuable complementary method to enhance surgical recovery and patient well-being

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • 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 Backup

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Having undergone Knee Replacement Surgery under general anesthesia

    • 18 years old and over,

  • Are in stable condition after surgery,
  • Are conscious, and
  • Volunteer to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with contraindications to Baduanjin exercises,

    -• Over 70 years old,

    • Using anxiolytic and sedative drugs,

  • Patients with any mental illness and those who do not meet the inclusion criteria will not be included in the study.

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: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Baduanjin

Participants in this arm will receive supervised Baduanjin exercises in addition to routine postoperative care. The Baduanjin protocol will begin on Postoperative Day 1 and continue for 3 weeks, with daily practice under guidance. Data collection will be performed at four time points using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the General Comfort Questionnaire, and the Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40).

Interview and Application Schedule:

Interview I (Preoperative): Face-to-face interview one day before surgery; informed consent and sociodemographic data collection

Interview II (Postoperative Day 1): Start of Baduanjin; baseline assessment with VAS, QoR-40, and Comfort Questionnaire

Interview III (Postoperative Week 4): Follow-up assessment with VAS, QoR-40, and Comfort Questionnaire

Interview IV (Postoperative Week 8): Final assessment with VAS, QoR-40, and Comfort Questionnaire
Other: Baduanjin
Baduanjin exercise
No Intervention: Standard care

Description:

Participants in this arm will receive standard postoperative nursing care and physical therapy, without any complementary intervention. Data will be collected at the same four time points as in the intervention group for comparison purposes.

Interview and Application Schedule:

Interview I (Preoperative): Face-to-face interview one day before surgery; informed consent and sociodemographic data collection

Interview II (Postoperative Day 1): Baseline assessment with VAS, QoR-40, and Comfort Questionnaire

Interview III (Postoperative Week 4): Follow-up assessment with VAS, QoR-40, and Comfort Questionnaire

Interview IV (Postoperative Week 8): Final assessment with VAS, QoR-40, and Comfort Questionnaire

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The Effect of Baduanjin on Pain
Time Frame: 12 month

Visual Analogue Scale:The Visual Analog Scale is a one-dimensional scale commonly used to measure pain intensity. VAS is a measuring tool with a length of 0-10 cm (0-100 mm).Since the aim of the study is to determine the effect of the non-pharmacological method used on existing pain, VAS will be used in the pain assessment before and after the application.

(Postoperative Day 1): Baseline assessment with VAS, (Postoperative Week 4): Follow-up assessment with VAS (Postoperative Week 8): Final assessment with VAS
12 month
The Effect of Baduanjin on Quality of Recovery
Time Frame: 12 month
Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40): The QoR-40 scale evaluates post-surgical recovery and includes five sub-dimensions: emotional state, physical comfort, patient support, physical independence, and pain. It consists of 40 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5). Subscale scores are calculated by summing relevant items; total scores range from 40 to 200. Higher scores reflect better physical and emotional recovery, while lower scores indicate impaired well-being. The QoR-40 will be administered after transfer to the clinic, before the Su Jok therapy, to assess recovery quality in the first 24 hours post-surgery. Reassessments will be conducted at three time points: (1) Postoperative Day 1 (baseline), (2) Postoperative Week 4 (follow-up), and (3) Postoperative Week 8 (final). This structured approach will provide insight into the patient's recovery progress over time.
12 month
The Effect of Baduanjin on Comfort
Time Frame: 12 month
General Comfort Scale: Developed by Kolcaba, the General Comfort Scale assesses individuals' comfort needs and the effectiveness of nursing interventions. It is structured on a taxonomy with three levels and four dimensions, reflecting the theoretical components of comfort. The scale includes 48 items rated on a four-point Likert scale. Items are a mix of positive and negative statements. In positive items, a score of 4 indicates high comfort, while 1 indicates low comfort. Negative items are reverse-scored before summing. The total score ranges from 48 to 192, with higher scores indicating greater overall comfort. In this study, the scale will be administered at three time points: (1) Postoperative Day 1 (baseline), (2) Postoperative Week 4 (follow-up), and (3) Postoperative Week 8 (final) to evaluate the progression of comfort throughout the recovery process.
12 month

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Niran Çoban

Investigators

  • Study Director: NİRAN ÇOBAN, https://akademik.yok.gov.tr/AkademikArama/view/viewAuthor.jsp

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

July 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 31, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 31, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

August 7, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 12, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 7, 2025

Last Verified

August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • NCBN

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.

Subscribe