Baduanjin Exercise Improves Cognitive and Pulmonary Function in COPD Patients

A recent study published in the International Journal of Gerontology has demonstrated the effectiveness of Baduanjin exercise in community-based rehabilitation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The study involved 45 COPD patients with MCI who were assigned to either a control group or an intervention group. The intervention group received additional on-site Baduanjin exercise instruction for 2 weeks, followed by 10 weeks of home-based practice and follow-up. The results showed that the intervention group exhibited greater improvements in pulmonary function tests and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores compared to the control group.

Key Takeaways:

• The study involved 45 COPD patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who were divided into a control group and an intervention group.
• The intervention group received 2 weeks of on-site Baduanjin exercise instruction, followed by 10 weeks of home-based practice and follow-up.
• After 12 weeks, the intervention group exhibited greater improvements in forced vital capacity (FVC) (p = 0.020, 95% CI (-0.37,-0.03)) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (p = 0.027, 95% CI (-0.83,-0.05)) compared to the control group.
• The intervention group showed improvements in MoCA scores, CAT scores, and exercise adherence rates compared to the control group.
• The study concluded that a 12-week Baduanjin exercise program effectively improves both cognitive and pulmonary function in COPD patients with MCI.

Statistics:

• 45 patients were involved in the study, with 25 in the control group and 20 in the intervention group.
• The intervention group received 2 weeks of on-site Baduanjin exercise instruction, followed by 10 weeks of home-based practice and follow-up.
• The study showed significant improvements in FVC (p = 0.020, 95% CI (-0.37,-0.03)) and FEV1 (p = 0.027, 95% CI (-0.83,-0.05)) in the intervention group.
• The study also showed improvements in MoCA scores, CAT scores, and exercise adherence rates in the intervention group.

Sources:

• "Baduanjin Exercise Training for Elderly Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment: a Feasibility Clinical Trial." International Journal of Gerontology, 2025;19(3):178-184.
• "Findings from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Broaden Understanding of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Baduanjin Exercise Training for Elderly Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients With Mild Cognitive ...)." Respiratory Therapeutics Week. August 25, 2025; p 1286.