Efficacy of Taiji Stick exercise on sleep quality and anxiety in older adults: a randomized controlled trial

Existing studies have confirmed that unarmed Health Qigong exercise can effectively improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety level among older adults; however, research on the effects of equipment-based Health Qigong practice on sleep quality and anxiety level in older adults remains scarce. Thus, this research sought to examine how Taiji Stick training over 11 weeks affects sleep quality and anxiety in older individuals.

This study employed a 2 × 2 mixed randomized controlled design, 35 senior participants were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 17) and a control group (n = 18). The experimental group underwent an intervention based on Taiji Stick practice with a 11-week duration, three sessions were conducted each week, with each session lasting 45 min, while the control group received no intervention and maintained their usual lifestyle habits. Sleep quality and anxiety level among older population in the both groups were measured using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) before and after exercise intervention.

In comparison to the pre-test findings within the experimental group, The post-test results showed a significant decline in the PSQI global score (P < 0.001), and scores of the four components in the PSQI, including subjective sleep quality (P < 0.05), sleep disturbances (P < 0.01), use of sleeping medication (P < 0.01), and daytime dysfunction (P < 0.05), were all significantly reduced. Meanwhile, the experimental group demonstrated a marked decrease in their post-test SAS standard score (P < 0.01). A notable rise was observed in the control group's post-test PSQI global score compared to the pre-test (P < 0.01), and the sleep efficiency component score in PSQI also significantly increased (P < 0.01). Additionally, the control group exhibited a marked increase in their post-test SAS standard score (P < 0.001). Following the exercise intervention, significant reductions were observed on both the PSQI global score and SAS standard score of the experimental group compared with the control group (PSQI global score: P < 0.001; SAS standard score: P < 0.001).

This study's findings revealed that 11 weeks of Taiji Stick exercise notably enhanced sleep quality and reduced anxiety level in older individuals.