Cervical sub-health and poor sleep quality are prevalent among university students, yet optimal exercise prescription parameters for Baduanjin intervention remain unclear. This study investigates the dose-response effects of different Baduanjin practice frequencies on cervical function and sleep quality. A 12-week randomized controlled trial will recruit 120 university students aged 18-30 years. Eligible participants will meet the criteria for cervical sub-health (defined as a Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] score ≥30 mm and a Neck Disability Index [NDI] score ≥20%) and poor sleep quality (defined as a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI] score >7). Participants will be randomly assigned to high-frequency group (5 sessions/week, 60 min), low-frequency group (3 sessions/week, 60 min), or wait-list control group. Primary outcomes include cervical pain – VAS, NDI, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Assessments will occur at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 4-week follow-up. Repeated measures ANOVA will analyze group-by-time interactions. This trial will provide evidence-based guidance for optimizing Baduanjin exercise prescription, addressing the fundamental question of “how much exercise is enough” in traditional Chinese exercise interventions. Findings will inform precision exercise recommendations for young adults with cervical sub-health and sleep disturbances.
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Yue, W., Othman, A. T. (2025) A Dose-response Study of Baduanjin Exercise on Cervical Sub-health and Sleep Quality in University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Disease and Public Health, 1(3), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.71052/jdph/FSQQ9752