The effects of Baduanjin exercise on fatigue and quality of life in patients with heart failure: A randomized controlled trial

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Baduanjin exercise on fatigue and quality of life in patients with heart failure.

The study was a randomized controlled trial. Participants diagnosed with heart failure were recruited from two large medical centers in northern Taiwan. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=39) or control (n=41) groups. Patients in the intervention group underwent a 12-week Baduanjin exercise program, which included Baduanjin exercise three times per week for 12 weeks at home, a 35-minute Baduanjin exercise demonstration video, a picture-based educational brochure, and a performance record form. The control group received usual care and received no intervention. Fatigue and quality of life were assessed using a structural questionnaire at baseline, four weeks, eight weeks, and 12 weeks after the intervention.

Participants in the Baduanjin exercise group showed significant improvement in fatigue (F=5.08, p=0.009) and quality of life (F=9.11, p=0.001) over time from baseline to week 12 after the intervention. Those in the control group showed significantly worse fatigue (F=3.46, p=0.033) over time from baseline to week 12 and no significant changes in quality of life (F=0.70, p=0.518). Compared to the control group, the exercise group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in fatigue and quality of life at four weeks, eight weeks, and 12 weeks.

This simple traditional exercise is recommended for Taiwanese patients with heart failure in order to improve their fatigue and quality of life.