Effects of home-based Baduanjin combined with elastic band exercise in patients with chronic heart failure

Many studies show that aerobic exercise combined with resistance training is beneficial for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The benefits of traditional Chinese exercise Baduanjin combined with an elastic band in this population are not known. To evaluate the effects of Baduanjin in conjunction with an elastic band on exercise capacity, physical function, muscle strength of the upper and lower extremities, quality of life (QoL), and exercise self-efficacy among CHF patients in a home-based setting.

A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted in this study. A total of 136 CHF patients were randomly assigned to the exercise or the control group. Chronic heart failure patients in the exercise group received Baduanjin combined with elastic band and CHF community care, while those in the control group accepted CHF community care. The duration of the interventions was 24 weeks. The measured outcomes included exercise capacity, physical function, muscle strength of the upper and lower extremities, QoL, and exercise self-efficacy. A generalized estimating equation model was employed to examine the effects of Baduanjin combined with the elastic band on the outcome variables. Chronic heart failure patients showed significant improvements in physical performance testing (PPT) (P = 0.023), 30-s arm curl test (30ACT) (P = 0.035), 10 sit-stand-to-sit tests (STS10) (P = 0.017), 6-min walk test (6MWT) (P < 0.001), QoL (P < 0.001), and exercise self-efficacy (P = 0.009) in the exercise group, while these variables did not differ in the control group. There were also significant differences in these variables between the two groups at Weeks 12 and 24 (P < 0.05). There were significant group-by-time interactions in the exercise group, with enhancements in PPT (F = 5.40, P = 0.032), 6MWT (F = 9.04, P < 0.001), muscle strength in the 30ACT and STS10 (F = 5.32, P = 0.037; F = 6.69, P = 0.005), QoL (F = 6.69, P < 0.001), and self-efficacy (F = 4.60, P = 0.038) revealed in CHF patients in this group from baseline to Week 24.

Baduanjin combined with elastic band exercise may improve exercise capacity, physical function, muscle strength, QoL, and exercise self-efficacy for CHF patients in a home-based setting, which may be a complementary exercise model for home-based CHF patients who are clinically stable and cannot participate in centre-based exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes.