title: The effect of Baduanjin exercise for physical and psychological wellbeing of college students: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The physical and mental health of college students tends to continuously decline around the world. Since they are in a significant transition period which presents opportunities and challenges in health promotion, it is important to improve their health in this period. As a traditional Chinese exercise form which combines movements with breath and mind, Baduanjin may be one of the selectable effective exercises. However, evidence of Baduanjin exercise for college students has not been completely established. The primary aim of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Baduanjin exercise for physical and mental health of college students through a rigorous randomization, parallel-controlled design.
  
  
  METHODS
  We will conduct a randomized, single-blind, parallel-controlled trial. A total of 222 college students from Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine who meet the eligibility criteria will be recruited and randomly allocated into Baduanjin training or usual exercise control group. Baduanjin training will last 12 weeks (1 h per day, 5 days per week). The physical and psychological outcomes, including lumbar muscle strength, lumbar proprioception function, physical fitness, as well as self-reported symptom intensity, stress, self-esteem, mood, quality of life, quality of sleep, and adverse events, will be evaluated by blinded outcome assessors at baseline, 13 weeks (at the end of intervention), and 25 weeks (after the 12-week follow-up period).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This protocol presents an objective design of a randomized, single-blind trial that aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Baduanjin exercise for physical and mental health of college students. If the outcome is positive, the results will provide higher-quality evidence to better inform the college students regarding their selection about whether to receive such exercise.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-TRC-13003329. Registration date: 18 July, 2013.
authors.affiliation: Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China. lidianchen87@163.com.
authors.forename: Guohua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Moyi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiulu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Xinghui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Qiu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Lidian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Junzhe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bai
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qianying
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D012107:Research Design; D018401:Sample Size; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology