HypertensionRandomised controlled trial
Effect of Baduanjin on Blood Pressure Among Individuals With High-Normal Blood Pressure
- Randomised controlled trial
- multicentre
- open-label
- blinded-outcome
- 2:1:1 randomisation
- 7 communities
Authors' conclusion
Baduanjin lowered SBP after 3 months of intervention in individuals with high-normal BP, with sustained BP-lowering effect until 1 year without monitoring, and showed comparable efficacy to brisk walking.
Study context
- Population
- Adults aged ≥40 years with high-normal blood pressure (BP) (systolic blood pressure (SBP) 130–139 mm Hg and/or DBP 85–89 mm Hg)
- Participants
- 216 adults
- Comparison
- Baduanjin vs self-directed exercise alone vs brisk walking
- Baduanjinn = 108
- Self-directed exercise alonen = 54reference
- Brisk walkingn = 54
- Primary endpoint
- Change in 24-hour SBP from baseline
- Follow-up
- 12 and 52 weeks
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Change in 24-hour SBP
Difference, mm Hg (95% CI)P value
Baduanjin vs Self-directed exercise alone12 weeks
−3.1(−5.9 to −0.2)
P = 0.036Baduanjin vs Self-directed exercise alone52 weeks
−3.3(−6.3 to −0.3)
P = 0.031Baduanjin vs Brisk walking52 weeks
−0.7(−3.9 to 2.6)
P = 0.683Further findings
Subgroups
- Effects not heterogeneous across subgroups
Original publication
Effect of Baduanjin on Blood Pressure Among Individuals With High-Normal Blood Pressure. J Am Coll Cardiol. Published 18 February 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2026.01.014
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it