Effect Of Baduanjin Exercise On Cognitive Function In Patients With Post-stroke Cognitive Impairment

Objective:To explore the effectiveness of Baduanjin exercise on cognitive function in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment.Methods:The study were conducted at the Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Wufeng Community Centre in the Gulou District and the Cangxia Community Centre in the Taijiang District,Fuzhou City,Fujian,China.A total of 48 participants were recruited and randomly allocated into the intervention group(n=24)or control group(n=24).Participants in the control group have received health education about rehabilitation of stroke.While participants in the intervention group have received a 24-week Baduanjin exercise training with a frequency of 3 days a week and 40 min a day apart from health education.Global cognitive function and the specific domains of cognition(i.e.,execution,memory,attention,processing speed and visuospatial ability)have been measured at baseline,8 weeks,16 weeks,24 weeks after intervention and 28 weeks after an additional 4-week follow-up period,while the activities of daily living and the quality of life have been measured at baseline,24 weeks after intervention and 28 weeks after an additional 4-week follow-up period.IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 software was used to statistical analysis.Results:1.As for global cognitive function,the MoCA scores in the intervention group were higher than the control group at 8 weeks,16 weeks,24 weeks after intervention and at 28 weeks after a 4-week follow-up period(P<0.001).2.As for executive ability,participants in the intervention group spent less time in TMT-A than participants in the control group at 24 weeks after intervention(P<0.05).Participants in the intervention group also spent less time in TMT-B than participants in the control group at 28 weeks after a 4-week follow-up period(P<0.05).3.As for memory,the AVLT scores in the intervention group were higher than the control group at 8 weeks,16 weeks,24 weeks after intervention(P<0.05).At 28 weeks after a 4-week follow-up period,the AVLT scores(three sections,namely "the second time","the third time","short-term-delayed recall")in the intervention group were higher than the control group(P<0.05).4.As for attention,in alertness section,participants in the intervention group spent less time in all two ronuds than participants in the control group at 16 weeks,24 weeks after intervention and at follow-up period(P<0.05).In Go/No go test,there were significant differene between two group in reaction time and accuracy(P<0.05)at 8 weeks and 16 weeks.In divided attention section,there were significant differene between two group in reaction time of audition and vision(P<0.05).5.As for processing speed,the DSC scores in the intervention group were higher than the control group at 8 weeks,16 weeks and 24 weeks after intervention(P<0.05).6.As for visuospatial ability,no significant difference showed on the CDT scores at each assessment time(P>0.05).7.As for activities of daily living,the MBI scores in the intervention group were higher than the control group at 24 weeks after intervention(P<0.05).8.As for quality of life,the SF-36 scores(inclding Physical Functioning,Role-Physical,Bodily Pain,Social Functioning,and Role-Emotional)in the intervention group were higher than the control group at 24 weeks after intervention(P<0.05).Scores(inclding Physical Functioning,Role-Physical,Bodily Pain,Social Functioning,and Role-Emotional)in the intervention group were higher than the control group at 28 weeks after a 4-week follow-up period(P<0.05).Conclusion:1.Baduanjin exercise for 6 months could improve global cognitive with PSCI.2.Baduanjin exercise for 6 months could improve executive ability,memory,attention,processing speed with PSCI,but no improvement shown in visuospatial ability.3.Baduanjin exercise for 6 months could improve activities of daily living and quality of life with PSCI.