SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Med.
Sec. Pulmonary Medicine
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1678352
Comparative efficacy of different traditional mind-body exercises in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and network meta-analysis
Provisionally accepted
- 1The Affiliated People’s Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- 2Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
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Objective: This study aimed to systematically compare the differential therapeutic effects of various traditional mind–body exercises (TaiChi, Liuzijue, Wuqinxi, Baduanjin, Yijinjing, and Yoga) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) through a network meta-analysis, providing evidence-based support and a scientific rationale for developing individualized rehabilitation strategies. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating traditional mind–body exercise interventions in COPD patients. Databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, and the VIP Database were searched from their inception to June 2025. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, while the network meta-analysis was conducted in Stata 14.0 using the frequentist model. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots. Results: A total of 83 RCTs comprising 6,707 COPD patients were included. For improving the percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%), the interventions ranked as follows: Wuqinxi (SUCRA = 82.9%) > Yijinjing (SUCRA = 65.9%) > Liuzijue (SUCRA = 63.5%) > Baduanjin (SUCRA = 63.1%) > Yoga (SUCRA = 47.8%) > TaiChi (SUCRA = 25.3%) > Conventional treatment (SUCRA = 1.5%). For enhancing the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), the ranking was: Wuqinxi (SUCRA = 96.7%) > Baduanjin (SUCRA = 80.6%) > TaiChi (SUCRA = 53.1%) > Liuzijue (SUCRA = 49.1%) > Yoga (SUCRA = 42.9%) > Yijinjing (SUCRA = 26.8%) > Conventional treatment (SUCRA = 0.9%). For reducing the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score, the ranking was: Yijinjing (SUCRA = 96.7%) > TaiChi (SUCRA = 75.9%) > Wuqinxi (SUCRA = 63.2%) > Baduanjin (SUCRA = 42.4%) > Yoga (SUCRA = 37.7%) > Liuzijue (SUCRA = 33.0%) > Conventional treatment (SUCRA = 1.2%). Conclusion: Wuqinxi demonstrated the greatest benefits in improving pulmonary function and exercise capacity, whereas Yijinjing showed the most significant effects in enhancing quality of life. Different mind–body exercise interventions may promote rehabilitation through distinct physiological and psychological mechanisms. Individualized selection of interventions can be tailored based on patients' functional status and rehabilitation needs. Systematic review registration: CRD420251051806
Keywords: Chronicobstructivepulmonarydisease, TraditionalMind–BodyExercises, Pulmonary Function, exercise capacity, Quality of Life
Received: 02 Aug 2025; Accepted: 29 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Lin, 徐, Xu, Sun, Sun and Xu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Shungui Xu, xushungui@sohu.com
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