Dong Yangjian, Pang Dan, Xiang Jie, Chao Guodong, Kuang Xiaoqin
College of Physical Education, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China.
College of Physical Education, Hubei Preschool Teachers College, Wuhan, China.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2025 Mar 21;104(12):e41908. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000041908.
Research shows that traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) significantly improve anxiety and depression in older adults. However, studies on the effects of different exercise durations, frequencies, and intensities in this population are limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the impact of TCEs on anxiety and depression, and explores the optimal exercise parameters, aiming to provide evidence for nonpharmacological treatment options in clinical practice.
As of August 2023, we conducted a literature search through 3 English electronic databases to identify relevant studies. We included studies that met our criteria. During the literature inclusion process, we used Review Manager 5.4 to create flow diagrams, assess the risk of bias, and perform statistical analyses.
A total of 31 eligible studies involving 2501 participants were included. Compared with the control group, TCEs showed significant improvements in anxiety (standardized mean differences [SMD] = -0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.78 to -0.08, P = .03, I2 = 96%) and depression (SMD = -1.14, 95% CI: -1.82 to -0.47, P = .03, I2 = 96%). Subgroup analyses indicated that an intervention duration of 12 to 16 weeks yielded the largest effect size for anxiety (SMD = -1.36, 95% CI: -2.36 to -0.36, P = .008), while the 24-week group showed the largest effect size for depression (SMD = -0.87, 95% CI: -1.43 to -0.30, P = .002). For intervention frequency, a regimen of 3 to 4 times per week produced the largest effect size for anxiety (SMD = -2.34, 95% CI: -4.69 to 0.02, P = .05), whereas a frequency of 5 to 7 times per week demonstrated the largest effect size for depression (SMD = -1.00, 95% CI: -1.83 to -0.17, P = .02). Regarding single-session exercise duration, a group exercising for 40 to 60 minutes showed the largest effect sizes for anxiety (SMD = -1.38, 95% CI: -2.40 to -0.37, P = .007) and depression (SMD = -0.75, 95% CI: -1.07 to -0.42, P < .00001).
The results indicate that TCEs significantly alleviate anxiety and depression in older adults, with intervention frequency, intensity, and duration potentially influencing the outcomes. However, heterogeneity across studies was observed, primarily due to differences in intervention types and control group designs. These findings offer valuable guidance for future research directions.
研究表明，传统中国运动显著改善老年人的焦虑和抑郁状况。然而，关于该人群中不同运动持续时间、频率和强度的影响的研究有限。本系统评价和荟萃分析评估传统中国运动对焦虑和抑郁的影响，并探索最佳运动参数，旨在为临床实践中的非药物治疗选择提供证据。
截至2023年8月，我们通过3个英文电子数据库进行文献检索以识别相关研究。我们纳入符合我们标准的研究。在文献纳入过程中，我们使用Review Manager 5.4创建流程图、评估偏倚风险并进行统计分析。
共纳入31项符合条件的研究，涉及2501名参与者。与对照组相比，传统中国运动在焦虑（标准化均数差[SMD]= -0.93，95%置信区间[CI]：-1.78至-0.08，P = 0.03，I² = 96%）和抑郁（SMD = -1.14，95% CI：-1.82至-0.47，P = 0.03，I² = 96%）方面显示出显著改善。亚组分析表明，干预持续时间为12至16周对焦虑产生的效应量最大（SMD = -1.36，95% CI：-2.36至-0.36，P = 0.008），而24周组对抑郁产生的效应量最大（SMD = -0.87，95% CI：-1.43至-0.30，P = 0.002）。对于干预频率，每周3至4次的方案对焦虑产生的效应量最大（SMD = -2.34，95% CI：-4.69至0.02，P = 0.05），而每周5至7次的频率对抑郁产生的效应量最大（SMD = -1.00，95% CI：-1.83至-0.17，P = 0.02）。关于单次运动持续时间，运动40至60分钟的组对焦虑（SMD = -1.38，95% CI：-2.40至-0.37，P = 0.007）和抑郁（SMD = -0.75，95% CI：-1.07至-0.42，P < 0.00001）产生的效应量最大。
结果表明，传统中国运动显著减轻老年人的焦虑和抑郁，干预频率、强度和持续时间可能影响结果。然而，观察到研究间存在异质性，主要是由于干预类型和对照组设计的差异。这些发现为未来的研究方向提供了有价值的指导。
