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

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

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

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

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 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

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
Intervention / Treatment
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

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

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

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Investigators

  • 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)

March 14, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 2, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 13, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 24, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID 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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