The Effects of Baduanjin Qigong in the Prevention of Bone Loss for Middle-Aged Women

DOI No: doi:10.1142/S0192415X06004259

The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, Vol. 34, No. 5 (2006) 741-747
Copyright: World Scientific Publishing Company & Institute for Advanced Research in Asian Science and Medicine

Department of Applied Mathematics, Chung-Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taiwan, ROC, Mei-Ling Yeh

Correspondence to: Dr. Mei-Ling Yeh, Graduate Institute of Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Nursing, National Taipei College of Nursing, 365, Ming-Te Road, PeiTou 112, Taipei, Taiwan. Tel: (+886) 2-2822-7101 (ext. 3232).

Graduate Institute of Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Nursing, National Taipei College of Nursing, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
Fang-Ying Lee Taipei Hospital, Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taiwan, ROC

Abstract: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a 12-week Baduanjin qigong training program in preventing bone loss for middle-aged women. An experimental design was adopted, and subjects were assigned randomly into an experimental group (n = 44) and a control group (n = 43). The experimental group received a 12-week Baduanjin qigong training program, whereas the control group did not. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured before and after the intervention. The results showed significant differences in IL-6 (t = -5.19, p < 0.000) and BMD (t = 1.99, p = 0.049) between the groups. Baduanjin reduced IL-6 and maintained BMD in the experimental group. In conclusion, this study demonstrates promising efficacy of Baduanjin in preventing bone loss commonly occurring in middle-aged women. Thus, Baduanjin is valuable for promoting and maintaining the health status of middle-aged women.

Keywords: Baduanjin; Qigong; Middle-Aged Women; Interleukin-6; Bone Mineral Density