Effects of Baduanjin Exercise on Improving Health in Sedentary Young and Middle-Aged Adults

A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Baduanjin on Improving Health Outcomes in Sedentary Young and Middle-Aged Adults

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a 12-week Baduanjin exercise program can improve health in sedentary young and middle-aged adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Does the Baduanjin program improve participants' cardiorespiratory fitness (measured as peak oxygen uptake)?
2. Does it improve their body composition, muscle strength, balance, and flexibility?
3. Does it reduce their daily sitting time?

Researchers will compare the Baduanjin training group to a health education control group to see if Baduanjin is more effective in improving these health outcomes.

Participants will:

1. Be randomly assigned to one of the two groups.
2. If in the Baduanjin group, attend supervised group sessions and practice at home for 12 weeks.
3. Complete a series of assessments at the beginning, middle, and end of the study, including fitness tests, body measurements, and questionnaires.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Sedentary Lifestyle; Behavioral Intervention
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Baduanjin exercise; Other: General Health Education

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 208
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Jingyi Ren, M.D., Chief Physician; Phone Number: 18600195099; Email: renjingyi@cjfh.org.cn

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 18 to 59 years
• Sedentary and physically inactive, defined as: (a) self-reported sitting time ≥ 8 hours per day, AND (b) not meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended level of physical activity ( engaging in < 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity per week, assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ])
• In good general health as self-reported, and free from any known diseases
• Willing and able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindications to cardiopulmonary exercise testing
• Currently participating in, or planning to participate within the next 3 months, in any other structured exercise or behavioral intervention program
• Pregnancy, lactation, or planning to become pregnant during the study period
• Inability to understand or comply with the study procedures

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Baduanjin Training Group; Participants in this group will receive a 12-week Baduanjin exercise program. The program consists of supervised group sessions combined with home-based practice, with a frequency of 5 sessions per week. Each session lasts 60 minutes, including warm-up, standardized Baduanjin practice, and cool-down. The Baduanjin exercises follow a standardized protocol.	Behavioral: Baduanjin exercise; A 12-week, standardized Baduanjin exercise program. Participants will complete 5 sessions per week, each lasting 60 minutes (including warm-up, Baduanjin practice, and cool-down). The program includes both supervised group sessions and guided home practice.
Other: Health Education Control Group; Participants in this group will receive general health education, which includes recommendations on physical activity types and duration (e.g., following the WHO guidelines). However, they will not be enrolled in any structured, supervised exercise program. They will be instructed to maintain their usual lifestyle throughout the study period.	Other: General Health Education; Participants will receive general health education (including recommendations on physical activity types and duration), but will not be enrolled in any structured or supervised exercise program. They will be instructed to maintain their usual lifestyle.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Peak Oxygen Uptake (VO₂peak) assessed by Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing	Measured by Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET).	at baseline and Week 13.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Sit-and-Reach Distance	Assessed by the standard sit-and-reach test.	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13.
Change in Active Range of Motion of the Shoulder, Hip, Knee, and Ankle joints assessed by Goniometry	Measured using a goniometer	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13.
Change in Time Spent in Sedentary Behavior assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)		at baseline and Week 13.
Scores on the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS)	The scale consists of two subscales: the Exercise Benefits Subscale (29 items) and the Exercise Barriers Subscale (14 items). The total score ranges from 43 to 172, with a higher score indicating a more positive perception towards exercise.	at baseline and Week 13
Change in Knee Extension Peak Torque assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry	Maximum torque generated during knee extension	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13.
Change in Knee Extension Total Work assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry	Total work performed during repeated maximal knee extension contractions.	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13.
Change in Knee Extension Average Power assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry		at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13.
Change in Knee Extension Fatigue Index assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry		at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13.
Change in Knee Flexion Peak Torque assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry	Maximum torque generated during Knee Flexion measured at a preset angular velocity	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Knee Flexion Total Work assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry	Total work performed during repeated maximal Knee Flexion contractions	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Knee Flexion Average Power assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry		at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Knee Flexion Fatigue Index assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry		at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Shoulder Flexion Peak Torque assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry	Maximum torque generated during Shoulder Flexion, measured at a preset angular velocity.	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Shoulder Flexion Total Work assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry	Total work performed during repeated maximal Shoulder Flexion contractions	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Shoulder Flexion Average Power assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry		at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Shoulder Flexion Fatigue Index assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry		at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Shoulder Abduction Peak Torque assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry	Maximum torque generated during Shoulder Abduction , measured at a preset angular velocity	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Shoulder Abduction Total Work assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry	Total work performed during repeated maximal Shoulder Abduction contractions	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Shoulder Abduction Average Power assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry		at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Shoulder Abduction Fatigue Index assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry		at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Elbow Extension Peak Torque assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry	Maximum torque generated during Elbow Extension, measured at a preset angular velocity	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Elbow Extension Total Work assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry	Total work performed during repeated maximal Elbow Extension contractions	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Elbow Extension Average Power assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry		at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Elbow Extension Fatigue Index assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry		at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Elbow Flexion Peak Torque assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry	Maximum torque generated during Elbow Flexion, measured at a preset angular velocity	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Elbow Flexion Total Work assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry	Total work performed during repeated maximal Elbow Flexion contractions	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Elbow Flexion Average Power assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry		at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Elbow Flexion Fatigue Index assessed by Isokinetic Dynamometry		at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13
Change in Rhythmic Weight Shift (RWS) Score assessed by Computerized Dynamic Posturography	Measured using a computerized dynamic posturography system.	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13.
Change in Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB) Score assessed by Computerized Dynamic Posturography	Measured using a computerized dynamic posturography system.	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13.
Change in Sensory Organization Test (SOT) Composite Score assessed by Computerized Dynamic Posturography	Measured using a computerized dynamic posturography system.	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13.
Change in Motor Control Test (MCT) Latency assessed by Computerized Dynamic Posturography	Measured using a computerized dynamic posturography system.	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13.
Change in Limits of Stability (LOS) Score assessed by Computerized Dynamic Posturography	Measured using a computerized dynamic posturography system.	at baseline, Week 8, and Week 13.
Change in Muscle Mass assessed by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis		at baseline and Week 13.
Change in Body Fat Percentage assessed by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis		at baseline and Week 13.
Change in Fat-Free Mass assessed by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis		at baseline and Week 13.
Change in Waist-to-Hip Ratio	Ratio of waist circumference to hip circumference	at baseline and Week 13.
Change in Center of Mass Sway Amplitude during Baduanjin Exercise assessed by 3D Motion Capture	Magnitude of anteroposterior and mediolateral displacement of the body's center of mass during static postures of Baduanjin, analyzed using a markerless 3D motion capture system	at baseline and Week 13
Change in Joint Range of Motion during Baduanjin Exercise assessed by 3D Motion Capture	Angular displacement of primary joints during the performance of Baduanjin movements, analyzed using a markerless 3D motion capture system.	at baseline and Week 13
Change in Center of Mass Height during Baduanjin Exercise assessed by 3D Motion Capture		at baseline and Week 13
Change in Integrated Electromyography (iEMG) during Baduanjin Exercise assessed by Surface Electromyography		at baseline and Week 13
Change in Root Mean Square (RMS) Amplitude during Baduanjin Exercise assessed by Surface Electromyography		at baseline and Week 13
Change in Glycemic Control Biomarkers	Fasting venous blood samples will be analyzed for indicators of glucose metabolism, such as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting insulin.	at baseline and Week 13.
Change in Lipid Profile	Fasting venous blood samples will be analyzed for indicators of lipid metabolism, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).	at baseline and Week 13.
Change in Inflammatory and Neurotrophic Biomarkers	Fasting venous blood samples will be analyzed for inflammatory markers (e.g., high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], interleukin-6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).	at baseline and Week 13.
Percentage of Prescribed Baduanjin Sessions Completed		Through study completion, up to Week 13.
Baduanjin Movement Quality Score assessed by Blinded Expert Review (100-point scale)	Score assessed by blinded experts using a standardized 100-point scoring rubric. Scores range from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better movement quality.	at Week 13

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: China-Japan Friendship Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): April 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 10, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 10, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 24, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 19, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 19, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Sedentary Behavior
• Other Study ID Numbers: Shoufa 2024-1-4061

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