Imagine if you could calm your mind and heal your body through a powerful practice that combines exercise and meditation. Well, a recent study has shown that Yijinjing Qigong, a Traditional Chinese Exercise, may be the key to treating poststroke depression (PSD). In this study, researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial with 60 patients diagnosed with mild PSD. Half of the participants underwent Yijinjing Qigong intervention, while the other half received routine rehabilitation training. The results were astounding! The group that practiced Yijinjing Qigong experienced significant reductions in depressive symptoms, as measured by the Hamilton Depression Scale. But that’s not all! The participants also showed improvements in brain network functional connectivity, as evidenced by changes in electroencephalography (EEG) signals. Specifically, they exhibited decreases in theta wave activity and increases in both global and local efficiency. Additionally, the Yijinjing Qigong group demonstrated greater functional connectivity in certain frequency bands in the brain network. These findings suggest that Yijinjing Qigong can enhance information transmission and integration across different regions of the brain, leading to improved mood and mental well-being. So, if you or someone you know is struggling with poststroke depression, consider exploring the benefits of Yijinjing Qigong as a non-pharmacological treatment option. Dive into the research and unlock the healing powers of this ancient practice!

ObjectiveAlthough Traditional Chinese Yijinjing Qigong Exercise (YJJQE) as mind–body intervention is popularly used among adults to ameliorate depressive symptoms in China, no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are available to evaluate the effects of YJJQE in patients with poststroke depression (PSD). This study aims to explore the clinical efficacy and the neurological and psychiatric mechanism in brain network functional connectivity underlying electroencephalography (EEG).Materials and methodsA total of 60 patients, diagnosed with mild PSD, were randomly (1:1) assigned to YJJQE group (n = 30) and control group of routine segmental rehabilitation training group (n = 30) for a 60-min exercise session once a day for 3 weeks. All outcome measures were collected at baseline and 3-weeks ending intervention. The primary outcome was the 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-24) score, evaluation at more time points for 1 month of follow-up. The secondary outcomes were EEG data in four frequency domains (δ, θ, α, and β), global efficiency (GE), local efficiency (LE), GE/LE curve [areas under the curve (AUC)], Phase Lag Index (PLI), (HAMD-24) Score and EEG correlation analysis.ResultsAll patients showed no significant differences in baseline data. After 3 weeks and 1 month of follow-up, the YJJQE group demonstrated significant decreasing changes compared to the control group on the HAMD-24 scores (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the YJJQE group also showed a significant reduction in θ wave, and an increase in both GE and LE. Compared to the control group, the YJJQE Qigong group showed significantly greater functional connectivity in the δ, θ, and β frequency bands in the brain network of the degree of phase synchronization (p < 0.001). HAMD-24 Score and EEG correlation analysis negative correlation in the Qigong group θ wave (p < 0.001).ConclusionOur findings demonstrated that YJJQE is estimated to effectively alleviate the depressed mood of patients with PSD by promoting the efficiency in information transmission of network functional connectivity and its integration ability in different brain regions. Therefore, the YJJQE would be useful as a non-pharmacological treatment to prevent PSD.Clinical trial registration[http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=55789], identifier [ChiCTR2000035588].

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