The effect of three-circle post standing (Zhanzhuang) qigong on the physical and psychological well-being of college students A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Qigong has a long-Term application by integration of mind, breath and body to prevent and cure diseases. Researches show that qigong practice could adjust anxiety, the mechanism may found on brain and heart functions. Currently there are limitations on qigongs anxiety-release mechanism study between mind and body, and existing studies lack of evidence on electrophysiology research. Our objective to analyse qigongs anxiety-release effect and mechanism. Methods:A two-Arm randomized clinical trial with 144 qigong naïve anxiety subjects without cerebral or cardiovascular diseases or other severe syndromes will be allocated to either a body and breath regulation group (n=72) or a body regulation group (n=72). Participants will conduct three-circle post standing qigong exercise 5 times per week for 8weeks, while the three-circle post standing qigong combined with abdominal breath regulation (TCPSQ-BR) group will combined with abdominal breath regulation. The primary outcome will be the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the secondary outcome will be complexity-based measures of heart rate and electroencephalogram (EEG) signals assessed at baseline and 8weeks. Multiscale entropy analysis will be used as measure of complexity. Conclusion: This study will be investigate the effects of qigongs anxiety-release by SAS, and will analyze the coordinates of EEG and heart rate variability (HRV) signals before and after three-circle post standing qigong (TCPSQ) practice, and to analyse their synergies by complex signal process method.