Abstract
BackgroundLow health-related physical fitness in college students is a risk factor for future development of cardiovascular diseases at later stages in life, but appropriate exercise is one of the main determinant factors of health-related physical fitness. Previous studies have showed that Baduanjin exercise is beneficial in improving sleep quality, mental health, body flexibility, and body physique. However, the evidence is unclear whether Baduanjin exercise can be recommended as an effective exercise to promote health-related physical fitness of college students.Methods/designOne hundred twenty college students will be recruited and randomly allocated to either the Baduanjin exercise or the control group at a ratio of 1:1. The students in the Baduanjin exercise group will receive a 12-week supervised Baduanjin exercise training intervention with a frequency of 1 h each day and 4 days per week, while those in the control group will not receive any specific exercise intervention and will be informed to maintain their original lifestyle for 12 weeks. The primary outcome of health-related physical fitness involving measurements of body flexibility, muscular strength, cardiopulmonary fitness, and body endurance will be measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention period. Mixed linear models will be used to analyze the effect of the Baduanjin exercise intervention on the health-related physical fitness of college students.DiscussionThis is the first trial to evaluate the effects of Baduanjin exercise on health-related physical fitness in college students. If the results are as expected, they will provide evidence of Baduanjin exercise in promoting health-related physical fitness in young adults.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-IOR-17013011. Registered on 17 November 2017.
Highlights
Low health-related physical fitness in college students is a risk factor for future development of cardiovascular diseases at later stages in life, but appropriate exercise is one of the main determinant factors of health-related physical fitness
This is the first trial to evaluate the effects of Baduanjin exercise on health-related physical fitness in college students
Previous studies have shown that regular Baduanjin exercise is beneficial in improving psychological and physiological outcomes among elderly adults and various clinical populations (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, chronic neck pain, chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness, psychological illness) [38,39,40]
Summary
Compared with conventional exercise styles (e.g., resistance exercise, muscular endurance exercise, and aerobic exercise), Baduanjin typically involves a mind–body integration practice to balance the Yin and Yang in the body and promote blood circulation and Qi for maximizing both physical and mental well-being [37]. We found that 12 weeks of regular Baduanjin training could improve the lower limb proprioception and flexibility in college students [33]. In this trial, we will observe the effect of 12 weeks of Baduanjin training on the health-related physical fitness of college students. The results of this trial may provide evidence of whether regular Baduanjin training can improve the health-related physical fitness of college students in China.
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