Exploring the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine exercise in alleviating anxiety and depression in older adults: a comprehensive study with randomized controlled trial and network meta-analysis

Yangjian Dong; Xiaoqin Kuang; Lili Dong; Guodong Chao; Juancai Qi; Xinxin Zhang; Jiwei Yao

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1290471

Exploring the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine exercise in alleviating anxiety and depression in older adults: a comprehensive study with randomized controlled trial and network meta-analysis

Front Psychol. 2023 Dec 11:14:1290471. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1290471. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Yangjian Dong^#^{1

2}, Xiaoqin Kuang^#³, Lili Dong², Guodong Chao², Juancai Qi⁴, Xinxin Zhang¹, Jiwei Yao¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Physical Education and Health, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China.
² College of Physical Education, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China.
³ College of Physical Education and Health, Guangxi University, Guilin, China.
⁴ School of Physical Education, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Anxiety and depression pose a significant global health challenge for elderly individuals. Research has demonstrated the potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) exercise therapies in alleviating these conditions. However, ongoing debate and uncertainty persist regarding the optimal therapy and its impact on anxiety and depression. This study aims to evaluate and prioritize TCM exercise therapies for anxiety and depression in older adults, to identify the most effective intervention, and to provide a basis for informed decision-making in clinical practice.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases including The Web of Science, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wang Fang, and Wei Pu database up to July 2022. Two researchers independently reviewed all included studies and extracted relevant data. Traditional meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager version 5.4, while network meta-analysis was conducted using STATA software version 15.1 to generate network evidence plots and funnel plots.

Result: A total of 30 trials, involving 2,806 participants, met the eligibility criteria. The traditional meta-analysis revealed that TCM exercise significantly improved anxiety (SMD = -0.82, 95% CI = -1.39, -0.26, p = 0.004) and depression (SMD = -0.63, 95% CI = -0.85, -0.41, p < 0.01) compared to the control group. In the network meta-analysis, Tai Chi exercise was ranked as the most effective intervention for anxiety (68.3%), followed by Yi Jin Jing (63.6%). For depression, the Tai Chi exercise was ranked as the most effective (87.8%), followed by the Ba Duan Jin exercise (74.1%).

Conclusion: TCE exercise can improve anxiety and depression in older adults, Among the four TCE exercise therapies included, Tai Chi exercise showed better efficacy than other types of treatment. Nevertheless, further research is required to validate the effectiveness of this exercise therapy through larger and more rigorous clinical trials.

Systematic review registration: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023438697.

Keywords: anxiety; depression; network meta-analysis; older adults; traditional Chinese medicine exercise.

Publication types

Systematic Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.