With the growing ubiquity of electronic devices, the incidence of upper crossed syndrome (UCS) is increasing every year and tends to affect younger populations. The study was designed to assess the effect of cervical and thoracic “Daoyin” training on pain, posture, pulmonary function, cervical range of motion, and emotional state in college students with UCS. We conducted a parallel-group randomized control study. The Fujian Medical University in China. 74 patients with UCS fulfilled the study requirement and were assigned to the intervention group (IG) and the control group (CG). Instructed cervical and thoracic “Daoyin” training was given to students in the IG for eight weeks, five days a week for 45 min, whereas students in the CG continued with their usual activities. Primary outcomes, including forward head and shoulder angles, pain and cervical spine function, as well as secondary outcomes, such as pulmonary function, cervical range of motion and emotional state, were measured at baseline and a follow-up of 8-week. These measurements were conducted using photogrammetry, visual analog scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), pulmonary function, cervical range of motion test and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), respectively. The statistical analysis used the change value between the baseline and the 8-week intervention measurements. 74 patients (IG = 37; CG = 37) were randomized. All participants were included in the analysis. There were significant differences of the change values between groups in Forward Head Angle (FHA) (d = 1.113, P < 0.001), Forward Shoulder Angle (FSA) (d = 1.052, P < 0.001), VAS (d = 0.854, P < 0.001), NDI (d = 0.754, P = 0.005), pulmonary function (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s/Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1/FVC) (d = 0.516, P = 0.002), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) (d = 0.504, P = 0.033), cervical range of motion in Left Rotation (LR) (d = 0.647, P = 0.014) and emotional state (d = 0.587, P = 0.014). No side effects were observed in this study. Cervical and thoracic “Daoyin” training can improve the abnormal posture of head forward and round shoulders, reducing pain and anxiety, improving cervical spine function, and improving lung function to a certain extent. ChiCTR2300072669 (20/06/2023), Prospective registration, www.chictr.org.cn .

Background Physical and mental health problems are becoming more serious among college students due to lifestyle changes and increased academic stress. Qigong exercise has been regarded as a potentially effective intervention to improve the physical and mental health of college students. Methods Eleven databases were searched from their respective inception dates to April 2022. Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Physical and psychological conditions, including limb muscle strength, flexibility, cardiorespiratory endurance, vital capacity, blood pressure and heart rate, as well as depression, anxiety and mood, were evaluated. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Results Sixteen randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. Significant improvements in cardiorespiratory endurance (MD = 3.83, 95% CI: 0.99 to 6.67, P = 0.008) and flexibility (MD = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.21 to 4.81, P = 0.001) were observed. We also observed that Qigong exercise significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms (SMD=-0.89, 95% CI: -1.17 to -0.61, P < 0.00001; SMD=-0.78, 95% CI: -1.31 to -0.25, P = 0.004). Nevertheless, no significant effects on muscle strength, vital capacity, blood pressure, heart rate or mood were found. Conclusion Qigong exercise was advantageous for college students in terms of improving flexibility and cardiorespiratory endurance and alleviating depression and anxiety to some extent. However, due to the limited number of eligible trials and the low methodological quality, more well-designed RCTs are needed in the future.

Abstract Background To investigate the effects of low-intensity exercise on aerobic exercise capacity and autophagy of skeletal muscle in rats after myocardial infarction (MI) and its possible mechanisms. Methods Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats, weighing 180–200 g, were randomly divided into sham, MI, and MI with exercise training (MI + Ex) groups. MI was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending artery. One week after surgery, low-intensity exercise training was carried out on a treadmill 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Results Infarct size of MI and MI + Ex groups was 30.8 ± 5.5% and 27.6 ± 5.0% of left ventricle, respectively (P > 0.05). Heart weight and heart to body weight ratio in the MI group were significantly higher than those in the sham group (P < 0.01), and were lowered by exercise training (P < 0.01). The maximal exercise distance and duration in the MI group were lower than those in the sham group (P < 0.01), but were significantly increased by exercise training (P < 0.05). Autophagosome of the gastrocnemius was not detectable in the sham group, scattered in the MI group but clustered in the MI + Ex group. Microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3-I/II) and Beclin-1 protein levels in the gastrocnemius were similar between MI and sham groups, but were significantly higher in the MI + Ex group (P < 0.05). Conclusions Low-intensity exercise improves exercise capacity in rats after MI. The effect is associated with enhanced autophagy of the skeletal muscle.