Effect of Baduanjin exercise on cognitive function in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial

Objective:
To investigate the effectiveness and safety of Baduanjin training on the cognitive function in stroke survivors with cognitive impairment.

Design:
A randomized, two-arm parallel controlled trial with allocation concealment and assessors blinding.

Setting:
Community centre of Fuzhou city, China.

Subjects:
A total of 48 participants were recruited and randomly allocated into the Baduanjin exercise intervention or control group.

Interventions:
The control group maintained original medication and rehabilitation treatment. The Baduanjin training group received 24-week Baduanjin training with a frequency of three days a week and 40 minutes a day based on original medication and rehabilitation treatment.

Main outcome measures:
The primary outcome was global cognitive function. Secondary outcome measures included the specific domains of cognition (i.e. memory, processing speed, execution, attention and visuospatial ability) and activities daily living.

Results:
In total, 41 (Baduanjin n = 22, control n = 19) participants completed 24-week treatment and data collection. Mean differences between groups at 24-week treatment were statistically significant for global cognitive function (MoCA: 2.54 (0.91 to 4.16)), execution (TMT-A: -42.4 (-75.0 to -9.8); TMT-B: -71.3 (-130.6 to -12.1)), memory (immediate recall: 2.11 (0.49 to 3.73); short-term delayed recognition: 2.47 (0.58 to 4.35) and long-term delayed recognition: 1.68(0.18 to 3.17)), attention (response time of alertness: -245.5 (-387 to -104)) and activities of daily living (modified Barthel Index).

Conclusion:
Regular Baduanjin training is associated with less loss of cognitive function in patients after stroke.

Keywords: Baduanjin exercise; cognitive impairment after stroke; randomized controlled trial.

PMID: 32517490 DOI: 10.1177/0269215520930256