ArticleBMC complementary medicine and therapies2022
A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of Baduanjin exercise on older adults with sarcopenia in China.
Article in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effectiveness of Mind-Body Exercise in Older Adults With Sarcopenia and Frailty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of Tai Chi and Baduanjin on muscle mass, muscle function, and activities of daily living in individuals with sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of traditional fitness qigong exercise on frailty status and overall well-being in frail or pre-frail patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Effect of Baduanjin Exercise and Resistance Band Training on Sarcopenia in the Elderly: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026Trial
- Efficacy of Baduanjin Exercise for Sarcopenia in Older Adults: A 24-Week Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle · 2025Trial
- Effect of Baduanjin exercise on sarcopenia in older adult patients: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in public health · 2025Trial
- Non-Pharmacological Strategies for Managing Sarcopenia in Chronic Diseases.Clinical interventions in aging · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAccompanied by the decline of physiological functions, the decrease of physical activity, and comorbidities, older adults are susceptible to sarcopenia because of accelerated loss of muscle mass. Resistance training is recommended by different clinical practice guidelines. However, most older adults have difficulty in taking recommended high-load resistance training programs, and there are limited exercise options form them. Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise with relatively low intensity and simple movements, has the potential benefits of improving physical functions and may be feasible in treating sarcopenia and preventing its adverse health outcomes in older patients. With the emergence of the concept of gut-muscle axis, this study aims to determine the efficacy of Baduanjin exercise on Chinese older adults with sarcopenia and explore its underlying mechanism.
methodsThis is a 24-week, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Individuals aged 60 to 84 years old will be screened for sarcopenia. 90 participants with sarcopenia will be enrolled and randomly assigned (1:1) into the Baduanjin exercise or resistance training group, and 20 participants without sarcopenia will be set as the non-sarcopenia control group. The primary outcome is the scores of Short Physical Performance Battery. The secondary outcomes are body composition, handgrip strength, walking speed, global cognitive function, and incidence of falls. These outcomes will be assessed at baseline, the 12th week and the 24th week. While stool samples from participants will be collected at baseline and the 24th week for analyzing the abundance of gut microbiome. Data will be analyzed in an intention-to-treat protocol. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will determine whether Baduanjin exercise can be an alternative non-pharmacological approach for older adults with sarcopenia. If they can show positive significance, it will promote Baduanjin exercise in clinical practice among these patients and inform further research involving exercise interventions on the optimal types, timing, and intensity to ameliorate sarcopenia for elderly people.
trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry; Registration number: ChiCTR2100051871; Prospectively registered on October 8th, 2021.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.